Sweden has signed a letter of intent that could see it supply up to 150 of its domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The two leaders met for talks in Linkoping in southern Sweden and visited Saab which is the maker of the JAS 39 Gripen fighter, the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, missile systems, anti-tank infantry weapons and other equipment.
Kristersson told a news conference afterwards that the two countries had signed a long-term cooperation agreement over air defences. The cooperation included the possibility of exporting 100-150 new Gripen E fighter jets in what would easily be Sweden’s biggest ever aircraft export order.
“We fully realise it’s a long road ahead of us,” Kristersson said with a Gripen in Swedish livery in the background.
“But from today we are committed to exploring all the possibilities in providing Ukraine with a large amount of Gripen fighters in the future.” He said.
Ukraine ptesident Volydmyr Zellensky said “We have started the work to obtain Gripens to Ukraine and expect the future contract to allow us to acquire no less than 100 such jets.
“For our army, Gripens are a priority. It is about money, about manoeuvres,” He concluded.
