LINKÖPING - Ukraine has entered into a preliminary agreement with Sweden for the future purchase of 100 to 150 JAS-39 Gripen multi-role combat aircraft. The announcement was made by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson after a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Reuters and AFP, this is a framework agreement that expresses the intention of both sides to cooperate on the modernisation of the Ukrainian Air Force. The actual supply contract is yet to be drafted and signed later.

According to Kristersson, this is a strategic step to ensure long-term support for Ukraine in the renewal of its air force. He said Sweden wants to become one of the key partners in the modernisation of the Ukrainian armed forces. The prime minister also pointed out that the specific form of the contract, the delivery schedule and the method of financing have not yet been determined. "This is a commitment to close cooperation and a signal that Sweden stands on the side of Ukraine," uvedl Kristersson.

As AFP reported, production of the latest version of the Gripen, known as Gripen E, could be expanded at Saab's Linköping plant, where major development and assembly is taking place. The Swedish government has previously reported that Saab plans to increase production capacity to cover long-term export orders. It is estimated that the first machines could be delivered within three to five years, with the entire contract stretching into the next decade.

President Zelensky thanked the Swedish government for its support and described Gripen as the ideal aircraft for the conditions in which Ukraine is fighting a defensive war. "It's an advanced, flexible and reliable system that could significantly strengthen our defence," he said, according to Reuters. The Ukrainian pilots had previously completed test flights in Sweden to familiarise themselves with the machine's controls and control system.

According to analysts interviewed by the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, Gripen has several advantages for Ukraine - in particular, low operating costs, the ability to operate from short runways and a high level of integration with modern NATO weapon systems. The aircraft could thus form a complement to the US F-16s, which Ukraine is also expecting.

While the agreement does not have an immediate impact on the battlefield, its symbolic significance is crucial. It confirms the continued willingness of some European states to support Kiev not only with arms supplies but also with technological cooperation and involvement in the defence industry.

gnews.cz - GH