Sweden will provide Ukraine with Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets alongside Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson confirmed.
Jonson stated this at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykhailo Fedorov in Kyiv on Wednesday, responding to a question from an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent regarding the transfer of missiles for the Gripen.
”Yes, we can say that we will also provide the Gripen aircraft with long-range strike capabilities. So, this will be one of those factors that, in my opinion, will force Russia to pull back to some of its logistical facilities as well,” the minister said.
Jonson also added that Sweden is conducting discussions and cooperation on this matter within the framework of the so-called ”aviation coalition,” which the Swedish side is part of alongside other countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. According to Jonson, ”everyone is in agreement on this.”
In turn, the Ukrainian Defense Minister emphasized that Meteor missiles ”are an important element, in general, of our future Air Defense System.”
”This could be a key tool against carriers of Russian KABs (guided aerial bombs). Therefore, we will do everything to get more of these missiles. Läs artikel