The Ukrainian air force may eventually re-equip with Saab Gripen E/F fighters:
The nimble supersonic jets are uniquely suited to the Ukrainian way of war, which requires the air force to spread far and wide across small airfields and even roadway airstrips in order to avoid attack.
This matters because Ukraine’s jets keep flying by avoiding big, vulnerable air bases — dispersing instead to highways and hidden strips across the country. But this survival strategy puts intense pressure on the aircraft. While Ukrainian brigades can coax American F-16s into this nomadic existence, it requires mobile support teams and kid-glove treatment.
The Gripen doesn’t — it’s built for rough-field warfare. Sweden designed the jet in the 1980s specifically to survive Soviet strikes on air bases, operating instead from highway strips scattered across the country.
SPADS are even better on rough fields.
The Gripens are obsolete, and merely provide low grade target practice. Even if delivered, it will take the Ukrainian pilots a year to become competent in their use. The F16 fiasco should have been a lesson to all.
Bob Sykes says:
Which is why now they are being written off (probably at full price) as “contribution” to NATO.
And the obvious solution is to… also send the pilots. Surely Sweden can find some volunteers loyal to the cause of Seattle fighting Moscow to the last Ukrainian… So, more dubious assets to write off.