Beds to give Gripen to Ukraine

The 17th aid package to Ukraine was presented at a press meeting with, among others, Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).

The package includes six battleships, grenade launchers, grenade launchers, anti-tank guns, anti-tank mines and more robots for the Robot 70 anti-aircraft system. The anti-aircraft system itself was included in a previous support package that was already announced in 2022.

Another part of the package is about buying up material to then donate to Ukraine, such as ammunition for the 90 combat vehicles that Sweden gave to Ukraine in 2023.

These combat vehicles have proven to be very effective for Ukraine’s defense battle, says the Sweden Democrats’ foreign policy spokesperson Aron Emilsson.

With the new support package to Ukraine, Sweden will have sent military support worth SEK 48.1 billion.

With the new support package to Ukraine, Sweden will have sent military support worth SEK 48.1 billion.

Photo: Anders Humlebo

Beds for the Gripen

Of the entire package of 4.6 billion, half is used to buy new parts for the upcoming new Gripen E fighter. This paves the way for Sweden to be able to give Gripenplan of the older models C and D to Ukraine.

But today’s announcement does not mean that it is clear that Sweden will donate Gripenplan. That decision has not yet been made.

We are taking steps to maintain our freedom of action in order to give the Gripen to Ukraine at a possible later stage, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).

Right now, the focus for the Swedish part is on Ukraine being able to use the F16 planes, which several countries contributed with, together with the two radar reconnaissance and control aircraft that Sweden promised Ukraine earlier this year.

Fewer are scrapped

The idea has been to pick parts from the 96 existing older Gripen models C and D for the new 60 Gripen E that the Riksdag ordered, in order to keep costs down.

By now setting aside 2.3 billion kroner to buy more completely new parts for the Gripen E, you avoid scrapping as many C/D models as you would otherwise need.

If Sweden were not to donate the Gripen to Ukraine, then the Swedish defense will have more available Gripen planes of the older model, Jonson points out.

The Social Democrats support the new Ukraine package, but former Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S) wants the government to give a clear statement that Ukraine will receive the Gripen plane.

The line must be crystal clear. Gripen is going to Ukraine. Full stop.

Hultqvist calls for more extensive planning to reach that goal, including the training of Ukrainian pilots.

The centre’s defense policy spokesperson Mikael Larsson wants the government to allocate more money and for pilot training to start.