The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Sweden and Ukraine have agreed on a large-scale defense agreement that includes the purchase of Swedish Gripen fighter jets by Ukraine.
This was announced on May 28 by the leaders of both countries, Ulf Kristersson and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the Uppsala military airbase.
Sweden intends to transfer 16 Gripen C/D fighter jets as part of bilateral assistance. In addition, Ukraine plans to purchase up to 20 Gripen E/F modification fighters, allocating €2.5 billion for this from the European Union loan under the Ukraine Support Loan.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the first Gripens could arrive in Ukraine within the next 10 months, and Ukrainian pilots and technicians are already training on these aircraft.
In an interview with United24, former Swedish Air Force pilot Jussi Halmetoja, who has over 2,300 flight hours in 25 different aircraft types, including the Gripen, explains how these Swedish multi-role fighters can strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
Armament and Unique Capabilities of the Gripen
The core of the Swedish Air Force consists of Gripen Charlie Delta (Gripen C/D) aircraft, which have also been used by the air forces of various countries for nearly 20 years. The aircraft are constantly upgraded, with the modernization program scheduled until 2035, and for some air forces, up to 2040.
The new generation of aircraft, the Gripen E/F, represents 20 years of technological evolution. The aircraft features everything required for modern combat: long-range radars, advanced weaponry, exceptional survivability, and powerful electronic warfare systems.
The fighters are armed with European Meteor air-to-air missiles. Their uniqueness lies in the ramjet engine, which allows them to fly 150–200 kilometers at very high speeds.
“Other missiles only have a booster engine that stops once the fuel is depleted, but this one doesn’t. Consequently, you get a much higher speed, a much greater range, and a much higher probability of interception,” Jussi Halmetoja explains.
The aircraft can also carry anti-ship missiles for striking maritime targets. This is the RBS-15 missile manufactured by the Swedish company Saab, with an operational range of 300 kilometers. The Gripen also possesses short-range weapons with a reach of 25, 30, or 40 kilometers, which are well-suited for destroying missiles, drones, or aircraft at close distances.
Jussi Halmetoja believes that Gripen fighters could very effectively perform two types of missions under combat conditions in Ukraine:
- Supporting frontline troops with long-range precision fire using air-to-surface missiles;
- Forcing enemy fighters and bombers, which operate at high altitudes along the border and conduct long-range missile strikes, to retreat and alter their tactics.
Gripen Takes Off from Highways
The Swedish fighter maintenance concept, which has existed for about 40 years, focuses on operating aircraft from dispersed bases across the country. It relies on agile logistics and a small footprint of technical personnel.
“They will work in the snow, in the mud, in the cold, in the rain, in the dark, under a tree, at a base, anywhere. That is what we put a lot of effort into. So you can actually use this aircraft day in and day out, week after week, and keep fighting. And that is one of the differences between our aircraft and many others that require much more infrastructure,” notes Jussi Halmetoja.
A unique capability of the Gripen aircraft is the ability to take off and land on very short runways, even on standard highways, which no other fighter jet can do. A team of just four to five people can handle refueling and rearming.
The Gripen is a multi-role fighter, meaning it can perform various types of missions: air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-sea. Depending on the mission type, settings can be easily changed right in mid-flight with the push of a button.
The aircraft is capable of taking off within five minutes of receiving a combat order. If the pilot is already in the cockpit, takeoff takes less than a minute.
Another unique feature is the design philosophy that allows combat rearming and refueling to be completed in just 10–15 minutes, unlike other aircraft like the F-16, Rafale, or Eurofighter, where it takes three to four times longer.
Training of Ukrainian Pilots
Jussi Halmetoja is convinced that for Ukrainian pilots with experience flying Soviet-era fighters, the transition to the Gripen will be very easy in terms of flight training, as mechanical handling on modern aircraft is straightforward.
The difficulty, according to him, lies in the information: how to interpret it and how to apply it tactically.
“But experienced pilots and even the youth today will grasp this quickly. I think initially, the main challenge for Ukrainian pilots will probably be language training. And I know they are making efforts to improve their skills so they can then go to a Western country and undergo training,” says Jussi Halmetoja.
Provided they have the necessary language skills, an experienced pilot can easily master the aircraft in three to four months, Jussi Halmetoja is certain. For young pilots without prior experience, it could take up to a year.
