Ukraine is preparing to receive Gripen fighters, in addition to F-16 and Mirage jets from the USA and France. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk in an interview with the BBC, without specifying the exact number of aircraft.
As part of the Purl program, European allies are purchasing fighters from the USA and transferring them to the Ukrainian army. This project is supported by several countries of the European Union and Canada, which have allocated 2 billion dollars for this purpose. Although the first deliveries have already arrived, the amount of aid has decreased, causing delays in their receipt.
Swedish Gripen Fighters: Characteristics
- Maximum Speed: about 2,200 km/h (two Mach).
- Range: up to 3,200 km (with auxiliary 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.
Gripen Features:
- Low operating costs compared to F-16 or Eurofighter.
- Ability to take off and land on short runways (including highways).
- Modular armament system for quick task changes.
- Modern avionics and integration with NATO weapons.
- Low cost per flight hour (approximately $4-5 thousand, compared to $20-30 thousand for F-35).
It is important to note that the Minister of Defense of Sweden agreed to sell Gripen fighters to Ukraine after the end of the conflict with Russia.
The message reflects that Ukraine is expecting deliveries of Gripen fighters as part of the Purl program, supported by EU countries and Canada. The first stage of deliveries has already taken place, but due to reduced aid volumes, delays may occur. Swedish Gripen fighters have high characteristics and many advantages, including low operating costs and the ability to quickly change armaments for specific tasks.