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Gripen fighters are cheaper and easier to operate than F-16s. However, it is important to understand that Gripen is more about political pressure to really strengthen the Ukrainian sky with F-16s.
This was stated by Oleh Sahakyan on Hromadske Radio.
«Some people ask why Sweden does not supply Gripen fighters. But we need to understand that these aircraft are primarily a lever of pressure, not a scenario A. Sweden has taken responsibility and risks to push the United States and other Western countries to transfer the aircraft, just like France did with tanks earlier.
As soon as the F-16 process was underway, Sweden said it needed time to determine its needs after joining NATO while Ukraine was preparing the infrastructure for the F-16. When the United States stalled, Sweden reiterated its readiness to provide the Gripen.
Now that the F-16s are on their way to Ukraine, Sweden says again that they will return to this issue as soon as necessary. But it is obvious that Gripen fighters from Sweden are on the table, Mirage 2000 fighters from France are on the table, and F-16s are on the way», – he explains.
Anatoliy Khrapchynsky, an aviation expert and deputy director general of an electronic warfare company, also emphasizes that the F-16 is a real advantage. Although the Gripen is easier to operate, the number of Gripens that Sweden can provide is too small for Ukraine to feel an advantage in the sky.
«The Gripen is efficient, cheap to maintain and operate. It can land on a regular highway, with no special modifications required. It is a very good airplane. Getting it would be a significant enhancement of our capabilities. But we could get only about one squadron from Sweden: 18 to 24 aircraft according to NATO standards.
F-16s are more demanding and more expensive to maintain. But there are many more of them, and we can get many more of them», – he explains.
That is why Ukraine has focused on F-16s. Ukraine will also be able to use French Mirage 2000 aircraft for reinforcement. They are needed to operate the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles, which are British long-range missiles that Ukraine will be able to use to strike military targets directly on Russian territory.
«Gripen will definitely appear in the Ukrainian Air Force. Perhaps after the victory, perhaps close to the victory. This is an unpretentious and very good airplane. It was created by a country that is located next to Russia. It is also very suitable for us. But the number of these planes now could not significantly strengthen Ukraine’s position», – explains Anatoliy Khrapchynsky.
Oleh Sahakyan believes that this summer will be a breakthrough for Ukraine in terms of the sky.
As a reminder, Sweden is ready to provide Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets in the future, said Foreign Minister Tobias Bylström. According to Bylström, the issue of supplying the aircraft to Kyiv was previously removed from the agenda because Ukraine concluded that it was too difficult to have two fighter systems at the same time—both F-16 and Gripen.
«But that doesn’t mean that Sweden is not open to continuing with the Gripen if and when the F-16 program is completed. Again, this is a matter for Ukraine, not the Swedish government», – he added.