Sweden asked to pause plans to send Gripen jets to Ukraine, focus on US F-16s

5 months ago 19

Sweden has been asked to pause plans to send Jas Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said on Tuesday, adding that the focus is now on US F-16s.

The announcement came following “intensive talks” between members of the air defence coalition that helps Ukraine with both aircraft and air defence systems.

“We have been urged by the other countries that run the coalition to wait for the Gripen system. It has to do with the fact that the focus is now on introducing the F-16 system,” Jonson told Swedish press agency TT on Tuesday.

Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have already announced their intention to send F-16s to Ukraine. The first aircraft are expected to be delivered later this year, meaning the Gripen will have to wait.

“We by no means rule out that it may become relevant in the future, but right now, the focus on the Ukrainian side is on implementing the F-16 program,” said the Swedish defence minister.

The opposition in Sweden has demanded that the country deliver the Gripen to Ukraine in principle immediately – but that is now out of the question.

“It is not in line with how the coalition views the introduction of two fighter aircraft systems at the same time,” Jonson noted.

This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on an official visit to Belgium on Tuesday to sign a security agreement with the country that includes the delivery of 30 US-made F-16 fighter jets on the condition that they are only used on Ukrainian soil.

Zelenskyy and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also agreed on a plan to provide “at least €977 million in Belgian military aid to Ukraine this year,” Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)