Sweden to consider providing Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets - media
The Swedish government will discuss with the armed forces the provision of JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine, which can carry high-precision weapons to destroy ground and surface targets.
This was reported by Swedish public radio SR, citing unnamed sources.
The government wants to know, among other things, how the transfer will affect Sweden's defense capabilities and how quickly Sweden will be able to receive new Gripen fighters to replace them.
The government may submit a formal request to the armed forces as early as Thursday.
According to the report, Ukraine has expressed hope to receive one division consisting of 16-18 Swedish-made jets produced by the Saab defense concern.
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In May, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk met with Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Knutsson and called for the transfer of Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.
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On August 19, during a visit to Sweden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that test flights on Gripen aircraft had begun with the participation of Ukrainian pilots. With the Swedish leader, he discussed in detail the future steps for Ukraine to receive these aircraft. However, Sweden claims that they need these planes to protect their own territory.
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