Pål Jonson (M) is at his first NATO summit as defense minister.In Vilnius, he has signed two new security protection agreements with Ukraine.
One allows Ukraine to buy military equipment under Swedish agreements. The country thus gets a fast track to new weapons.
The second is needed for Ukraine to be able to evaluate the Swedish Jas 39 Gripen as a combat aircraft.- It is about a number of Ukrainian pilots will test fly the Gripen, the simulators, and also have ground personnel to test the Gripen, and compare how it matches up with their long-term needs for combat aircraft systems, says Pål Jonson.- I estimate that it will be able to start after the summer. I know that the Armed Forces are working on this.
**Can train in Sweden**
Giving some Swedish Gripen planes to Ukraine is therefore not relevant. However, Pål Jonson emphasizes the importance of Ukraine being able to build a strong air defense.- If Russia were to gain air supremacy in this conflict, it could turn the war to Ukraine’s disadvantage. Therefore, we have also supported the Ukrainians with various types of anti-aircraft systems.
It is also the reason why Sweden is part of a corner of the so-called “F-16 family”, about ten countries that have joined forces to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, including by training Ukrainian pilots on precisely the American fighter aircraft F- 16.
However, four of the countries – Sweden, Canada, Luxembourg and Great Britain – do not have their own F-16 planes.- What we can contribute can be financial support, training of Ukrainian pilots in English or that we provide our territory for various types of exercises, says Pål Jonson.
**”No point in sending tanks”**
On June 1, the government tasked the Armed Forces to provide proposals for equipment that Sweden can donate to Ukraine during the period June 2023–June 2024.
“All available materiel” would be relevant, and the government emphasized in particular that the proposal “may have an impact on the operational capability and on the growth of the war organization”.
This means that even gadgets that the Armed Forces are currently using could be sent.
However, Pål Jonson foresees that the Swedish support going forward will be focused on keeping going what we have already donated, with spare parts, ammunition and training of mechanics.
That is why we have tasked the Armed Forces to look into whether it is possible to establish a hub for logistics and maintenance near Ukraine, says Pål Jonson.
There is no point in sending tanks or artillery systems, if at the same time we cannot supply them with ammunition or spare parts.
**The support is crucial**
However, the support to Ukraine must continue, according to the Minister of Defence, who calls it “absolutely crucial”.- It may happen that we may not be able to transfer as much bilateral military equipment, but then we have to work to increase the production of new defense equipment and finance it through various types of funds.However, the weapons Sweden has already sent have done well.
I have received very good feedback both on the platforms and systems that we sent, but also on the training that we have carried out. For example, we have trained four companies on Combat Vehicles 90, which I know the Ukrainians have appreciated, and it is an important and central capability now in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.More central role for SwedenDuring the meeting in Vilnius, the NATO leaders made decisions on new regional defense plans, which Pål Jonson also took part in.
**There, too, the Swedish role is becoming increasingly central.**
When strengthening the regional plans, it is important to have full Swedish NATO membership, because then our territory can give NATO better strategic and operational depth. It is easier to defend Finland and the Baltic countries if Sweden is fully integrated into the regional plans, he says.
This is a great fighter for the Ukranian scenario! And it puts to shame all those third world Russian fighters, with rudimentary obsolete technology!
Blågula syskon! Blue-yellow siblings!
There are two things that are in play here. Long term the Gripen is a great option for Ukraine instead of F-16. If Saab was to establish production facilities, something they have offered to other Gripen potential customers, it would be win for both the Ukraine airforce and for their defense industry. It also brings benefits to Sweden and Saab. Ukraine already has a mature an sophisticated aerospace industry but with much lower production costs. One of the knocks and the Gripen in international sales has been the initial price tag even though the fighter is often cheaper to operate and easier to maintain. Manufacturing in Ukraine might bring that initial price tag down, making Gripen more competitive. Also, having another country operating a sizable fleet instead of 10 or 12 is a big sales point as well as it makes long term support more viable.
It’s still likely Ukraine ends up with F-16 just because of economies of scale but Gripen would allow them much more control over the industrial base supplying their fighter fleet and would keep more of that money in Ukraine.
Immediately, Gripen would be extremely useful. Even a small number – like 6 – would be incredibly useful. Gripen has an extensive EW suite built into the aircraft that was specifically tailored to Russia. Gripen could operate as an electronic warfare aircraft, accompaniments other aircraft in a strike package with jamming support and possibly targeting Russian Sam systems. Gripen also is already integrated with the meteor missile – the only long range air to air missile with a chance to challenge the MiG-31/R-37 combo that’s caused Ukraine a lot of problems. Just the threat of meteor armed Gripens might force a change in Russian behavior.
4 comments
Pål Jonson (M) is at his first NATO summit as defense minister.In Vilnius, he has signed two new security protection agreements with Ukraine.
One allows Ukraine to buy military equipment under Swedish agreements. The country thus gets a fast track to new weapons.
The second is needed for Ukraine to be able to evaluate the Swedish Jas 39 Gripen as a combat aircraft.- It is about a number of Ukrainian pilots will test fly the Gripen, the simulators, and also have ground personnel to test the Gripen, and compare how it matches up with their long-term needs for combat aircraft systems, says Pål Jonson.- I estimate that it will be able to start after the summer. I know that the Armed Forces are working on this.
**Can train in Sweden**
Giving some Swedish Gripen planes to Ukraine is therefore not relevant. However, Pål Jonson emphasizes the importance of Ukraine being able to build a strong air defense.- If Russia were to gain air supremacy in this conflict, it could turn the war to Ukraine’s disadvantage. Therefore, we have also supported the Ukrainians with various types of anti-aircraft systems.
It is also the reason why Sweden is part of a corner of the so-called “F-16 family”, about ten countries that have joined forces to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, including by training Ukrainian pilots on precisely the American fighter aircraft F- 16.
However, four of the countries – Sweden, Canada, Luxembourg and Great Britain – do not have their own F-16 planes.- What we can contribute can be financial support, training of Ukrainian pilots in English or that we provide our territory for various types of exercises, says Pål Jonson.
**”No point in sending tanks”**
On June 1, the government tasked the Armed Forces to provide proposals for equipment that Sweden can donate to Ukraine during the period June 2023–June 2024.
“All available materiel” would be relevant, and the government emphasized in particular that the proposal “may have an impact on the operational capability and on the growth of the war organization”.
This means that even gadgets that the Armed Forces are currently using could be sent.
However, Pål Jonson foresees that the Swedish support going forward will be focused on keeping going what we have already donated, with spare parts, ammunition and training of mechanics.
That is why we have tasked the Armed Forces to look into whether it is possible to establish a hub for logistics and maintenance near Ukraine, says Pål Jonson.
There is no point in sending tanks or artillery systems, if at the same time we cannot supply them with ammunition or spare parts.
**The support is crucial**
However, the support to Ukraine must continue, according to the Minister of Defence, who calls it “absolutely crucial”.- It may happen that we may not be able to transfer as much bilateral military equipment, but then we have to work to increase the production of new defense equipment and finance it through various types of funds.However, the weapons Sweden has already sent have done well.
I have received very good feedback both on the platforms and systems that we sent, but also on the training that we have carried out. For example, we have trained four companies on Combat Vehicles 90, which I know the Ukrainians have appreciated, and it is an important and central capability now in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.More central role for SwedenDuring the meeting in Vilnius, the NATO leaders made decisions on new regional defense plans, which Pål Jonson also took part in.
**There, too, the Swedish role is becoming increasingly central.**
When strengthening the regional plans, it is important to have full Swedish NATO membership, because then our territory can give NATO better strategic and operational depth. It is easier to defend Finland and the Baltic countries if Sweden is fully integrated into the regional plans, he says.
This is a great fighter for the Ukranian scenario! And it puts to shame all those third world Russian fighters, with rudimentary obsolete technology!
Blågula syskon! Blue-yellow siblings!
There are two things that are in play here. Long term the Gripen is a great option for Ukraine instead of F-16. If Saab was to establish production facilities, something they have offered to other Gripen potential customers, it would be win for both the Ukraine airforce and for their defense industry. It also brings benefits to Sweden and Saab. Ukraine already has a mature an sophisticated aerospace industry but with much lower production costs. One of the knocks and the Gripen in international sales has been the initial price tag even though the fighter is often cheaper to operate and easier to maintain. Manufacturing in Ukraine might bring that initial price tag down, making Gripen more competitive. Also, having another country operating a sizable fleet instead of 10 or 12 is a big sales point as well as it makes long term support more viable.
It’s still likely Ukraine ends up with F-16 just because of economies of scale but Gripen would allow them much more control over the industrial base supplying their fighter fleet and would keep more of that money in Ukraine.
Immediately, Gripen would be extremely useful. Even a small number – like 6 – would be incredibly useful. Gripen has an extensive EW suite built into the aircraft that was specifically tailored to Russia. Gripen could operate as an electronic warfare aircraft, accompaniments other aircraft in a strike package with jamming support and possibly targeting Russian Sam systems. Gripen also is already integrated with the meteor missile – the only long range air to air missile with a chance to challenge the MiG-31/R-37 combo that’s caused Ukraine a lot of problems. Just the threat of meteor armed Gripens might force a change in Russian behavior.