Sweden will provide Ukraine with a major military assistance package worth approximately $2.7 billion, including 16 Gripen C/D fighter jets equipped with Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles. Ukrainian pilots are already training in Sweden, with deliveries of used aircraft expected by early 2027 and newer Gripen E/F models by 2030, aiming for 100-150 total.
Ukrainian experts highlight the Gripen's suitability for wartime needs due to its design for dispersed operations, reduced foreign object damage risk, rapid turnaround, in-engine refueling, flexible weapons integration, and lower operating costs. Russian military commentators acknowledge that Gripens armed with Meteor missiles, capable of striking targets at 200 kilometers, pose a serious threat to Russian assets in air-to-air combat. Additionally, $400 million is allocated for Ukraine's domestic drone production, and Ukraine is increasingly serving as a testing ground for foreign defense technologies.
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