Sweden and Ukraine continue fighter jet talks amid NATO dynamics

Contrary to previous reports, Ukraine continues to talk with Sweden about transferring JAS 39 Gripen fighters. Here, we outline these aircraft's capabilities.

The initial information about the potential transfer of JAS 39 Gripen fighters surfaced in August 2023, when representatives of the Ukrainian Air Force visited Sweden to assess the aircraft. At that time, the Ukrainian Air Force Command announced that it would "fight" for the acquisition of Gripens. However, the Swedish Prime Minister stated that he could not authorize the transfer of the Gripen planes to Ukraine.

Recently, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström stated that Ukraine decided to delay the procurement of JAS 39 Gripen fighters until the preparations for the transfer of American F-16 fighters are completed. However, members of the Ukrainian government have refuted this claim.

Ukraine remains interested in acquiring Swedish multirole fighters. Igor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, denies the previous information.

"I have never heard that Ukrainians gave up on the Gripen fighters. On the contrary, this is a topic that my president constantly brings up before the Swedish leadership," he said.

The Ukrainian official also noted that before Stockholm's accession to NATO, the government could not make any promises. However, now "the president is communicating again with the Swedish Prime Minister, and our Ministry of Defense with the appropriate Swedish government agencies."

The SAAB multirole fighter JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight aircraft developed by Sweden in collaboration with BAE Systems. The design of these planes began in the 1980s, with the first test flight occurring in December 1988, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Gripen.

These planes are constructed using the canard configuration and are powered by turbofan engines. These engines can be Volvo Aero RM12 or F414-GE-39E depending on the version. Both engine types enable the aircraft to reach Mach 2, approximately 1,324 mph. The maximum operational ceiling for the Gripen is 59,054 ft, an impressive achievement.

The dimensions of the JAS 39 Gripen fighter are also noteworthy. The wingspan is 27.6 ft, and the length ranges from 46.3 to 48.5 ft, depending on the version. The aircraft's height is 14.8 ft. These dimensions make the fighter slightly smaller than the American F-16.

Despite its smaller size, the Gripen can carry an impressive array of armaments. The aircraft, which weighs between 14,770 and 15,650 lbs, can be equipped with six AIM-9 Sidewinder or IRIS-T missiles, four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, and GBU and Mk 82 family bombs. The primary weapon of the Gripen is the Mauser BK-27 aircraft cannon, which is the core of its armament.