From highways to all-missile capability — Zelenskyy highlights Gripen’s advantages for Ukraine

He stated this during a conversation with journalists on Tuesday, October 28, according to Ukrinform.

The president said that during negotiations in Sweden, a “historic agreement” was reached on localizing Gripen fighter production in Ukraine.

“Gripen maintenance is the cheapest because it requires the fewest personnel. For our qualified pilots, training takes only six months, not a year and a half as with the F-16, for example. All of Gripen’s technical capabilities — including takeoff and landing on highways — are also a major advantage,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

He noted that even before the F-16s arrived, Ukrainian engineers were seeking ways to integrate Western weapons onto Soviet aircraft, a process that was complex and time-consuming due to a lack of compatible mounts.

“As for the Gripen, everything can be attached to it — probably almost everything Ukraine currently uses, from missiles to other types of weapons,” the head of state added.

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine’s total need for combat aircraft amounts to around 250 new fighters, and that an agreement has already been reached for the supply of 150 Gripens.

• Earlier, on October 25, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and Sweden had reached an agreement on the supply of Gripen fighters.