Ukraine rejects Swedish Gripen fighter jet offer
Ukraine has turned down (or at least postponed) an offer for Swedish Gripen fighter jets, the Swedish minister for foreign affairs has revealed, with complications surrounding the simultaneous implementation of two fighter systems prompting Ukraine to re-assess the idea at a later date.
Speaking to news agency VOA, Tobias Billström, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, highlighted that despite his nation having offered Saab Gripen jets to Ukraine, the latter “came to the conclusion that having two fighter systems at the same time – both F-16 and Gripen – is too much”.
“We must understand that Ukraine was given the opportunity to receive F-16 fighters, of which, of course, there are more in the NATO family,” continued Billström; confirming that the current decision “doesn’t mean Sweden isn’t open to continuing with Gripens if and when the F-16 programme is completed”.
Stressing that the decision to reject (or at least defer) sending Gripen to Ukraine was made by the Ukrainian rather than the Swedish government, he reiterated that Sweden has “decided to give Ukraine other capabilities that Sweden has”. In May, the Swedish government announced its intention to donate its two Erieye radar-equipped ASC 890 airborne early warning aircraft, the first time Ukraine has received such a capability.
Billström’s comments corroborate an earlier announcement made by Swedish defence minister Pål Jonson in May 2024, who told news agency TT that Sweden has been “urged by the other countries in the coalition to wait with the Gripen system;” adding that “this has to do with the fact that the focus is now on introducing the F-16 system”.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently confirmed that NATO allies have already begun the transfer of donated F-16s, telling the NATO Public Forum that that Danish and Dutch examples will be “flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer”. Around 80 donated units have been pledged thus far.
In June 2024, France’s President Macron also announced his country’s intention to transfer Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine (with initial pilot training to be completed by the end of the year), although no firm dates have yet been set for the type’s potential entry into operational service.
