Ukraine to Receive Gripen Fighters: What We Know About Swedish Aircraft.

According to inkorr.com: Ukraine is preparing to receive Gripen fighters in addition to F-16 and Mirage aircraft provided by the USA and France. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk in an interview with the BBC, without specifying the number of planes.

As part of the Purl program, European allies are purchasing fighters from the USA and transferring them to the Ukrainian military. This project is supported by several European Union countries and Canada, which have allocated $2 billion for this initiative. Although the first deliveries have already occurred, considering the reduction in the volume of assistance, there may be delays in receiving the aircraft.

Swedish Gripen Fighters: Characteristics

• Maximum Speed: about 2200 km/h (approximately two Mach).
• Range: up to 3200 km (with drop tanks).
• Combat Radius: approximately 800 km without refueling.

Armament:

• 27-mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.
• 'Air-to-Air' missiles (Aim-120 Amraam, Iris-T, Meteor).
• 'Air-to-Ground' missiles (Maverick, Taurus, Kepd 350).
• Guided and unguided bombs.

Advantages of Gripen:

• Low operating costs compared to F-16 or Eurofighter.
• Capability for short takeoff and landing (including highways).
• Modular armament system for quick task changes.
• Modern avionics and integration with NATO.
• Low cost per flight hour (about $4-5 thousand, compared to $20-30 thousand in F-35).

The Swedish Minister of Defense approved the sale of Gripen fighters to Ukraine after the completion of the conflict with Russia.

Thus, Ukraine expects deliveries of Gripen under the Purl program, which is actively supported by EU countries and Canada. Although the first stage of deliveries has already been realized, delays may arise due to changes in the volume of assistance. The Swedish Gripen features high specifications and numerous advantages such as low operating costs and rapid adaptation of armament to specific needs.