Ukraine to receive long-range Meteor missiles alongside first batch of Gripen fighters
The first batch of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters for Ukraine will be delivered alongside Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles.
Source: Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
Quote: "Ukraine will receive the first batch of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters with Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles."
Details: Palisa described this as not merely another aircraft reinforcement but a further step towards a qualitatively new architecture of Ukrainian defence.
"Most importantly, the Gripen with Meteor missiles on board will be the 'long arm' of our aircraft, allowing us to push carriers of Russian guided aerial bombs away from the front. This is an invaluable reinforcement of both our aircraft and the protection of infantry," he said.
He added that the Gripen is designed for warfare where aviation must operate quickly and adaptively from various forward operating airfields in complex air defence environments and under constant enemy pressure.
"The arrival of Swedish fighters gives us more tools to combat Russian aviation, missiles, drones and strike systems. This is a significant enhancement of Air Force capabilities and the gradual formation of the system as we envision it," Palisa stressed.
The Meteor is a long-range air-to-air missile with a range of over 100 km and a speed exceeding Mach 4 (Mach 1 equals the speed of sound). It is equipped with a ramjet engine and is capable of operating autonomously even in complex electronic warfare conditions.
Background: Ukraine is expected to receive its first Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters within the next 10 months. Ukraine plans to procure 22 Gripens in the E variant and will also receive 16 Gripens in the C/D variant from Sweden.
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