Ukraine revisits Swedish jets amid evolving defence needs
Anatolij Chrapczyński, a former Ukrainian military pilot and now an aviation expert, explained why Ukraine initially abandoned the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters, which they are now interested in.
On a Ukrainian radio station broadcast, Chrapczyński stated that the problem was the number of JAS‑39 Gripen fighters that Kyiv could receive from allies. Their declarations clearly showed that it was better to focus on F-16 fighters, which the West could supply in larger numbers. At the same time, introducing two different types of new fighters to the Ukrainian air force would be too much of a burden.
F-16s were more important than JAS-39 Gripen
"It should be noted that the most common aircraft we could afford was the F-16. There are many of them. The Swedes wouldn't have given us more than one squadron, which was insufficient. At that time, we needed to get aircraft most suitable for our needs as quickly as possible. It was also about quickly training pilots, engineering staff, and preparing the technical base," said Chrapczyński, as quoted by the Unian agency.
Now the situation looks different. After the first F-16s were deployed in the Ukrainian army, new discussions began with partners about other fighters. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerow confirmed that the primary considerations include French Mirage 2000 and JAS-39 Gripen.
Fighters ideal for Ukraine?
Due to several of their features, the Swedish machines, as highlighted by Chrapczyński, are practically tailor-made for the needs of Ukrainians.
"The JAS-39 Gripen is significantly cheaper to use than other aircraft. It is also much newer. And its distinctive feature is the ability to take off from short runways, which is very important during wartime operations," assessed the Ukrainian expert.
The JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter capable of reaching speeds up to approximately 1,324 mph (2 Mach) and operating at altitudes up to 59,000 feet. Besides being able to operate from short, makeshift runways, it is relatively simple in terms of ground maintenance and cheaper to operate than the American F-16. The basic armament of the JAS 39 Gripen includes a Mauser BK-27 cannon with a 27 mm calibre, but it can also carry suspended armaments such as air-to-air missiles and bombs.
