Swedish defence minister: Ukrainian pilots already training on Gripen
Training of Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel on Swedish Gripen fighters is already under way and will be expanded this autumn.
Source: Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: Jonson described the arrival of the Gripen in the Ukrainian Armed Forces as "a new chapter of Ukraine's air defence".
"Training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians is already underway and will expand this autumn. Gripen C/D can be delivered with weapons such as IRIS-T, AMRAAM and the long-range Meteor missile. This is about aircraft, weapons, skills and sustainment," the minister said.
Jonson stated that Ukraine is not simply receiving aircraft but "building a modern air force able to fight, survive and adapt under the hardest conditions in Europe".
"When the necessary decisions and permits are in place, deliveries of Gripen C/D to Ukraine are planned to begin early next year," Jonson said.
He added that the goal is to strengthen Ukraine as quickly as possible now and to build modern air forces for the decades ahead.
"A stronger Ukrainian air force makes Ukraine safer, Europe stronger and Russia's room for aggression smaller. The European country that knows most about the demands of this war has chosen Swedish Gripen," the Swedish defence minister concluded.
Background:
- On 28 May, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the forthcoming transfer to Ukraine of 16 previously used Gripen fighters and plans to sell 20 new aircraft.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will direct funds received for defence from the European Union's €90bn financial assistance package towards, among other things, the purchase of Gripen fighters from Sweden.
- In October 2025, the Swedish prime minister announced the signing of a letter of intent with Ukraine to sell Ukraine between 100 and 150 Gripen E-series fighters. At that time, Zelenskyy announced that the first Gripens from Sweden could arrive in 2026.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
