Aircraft spare parts Sweden had acquired as part of Ukraine aid package is for maintenance of 14 JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighters. The details of the acquisition made this September were disclosed by Swedish Minister of Defense Pål Jonson at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umierov on November 22nd, Janes reports.
"There were spares for up to 14 [Gripen] platforms in the last package," Jonson said referring to the SEK 4.6 billion (USD ~415 mln) military assistance provision allocated September 9th by the government of Sweden.
Read more: Half of the 4.6 Billion Kronor Aid Package Is Allocated for the JAS 39C/D Gripen Jet Components
The provision was part of Stockholm's "efforts to establish conditions for a possible future support of JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine," reads the official notice from the defense department, and amounted to half of the value of this package. By acquiring new spares some of the JAS 39C/D jets could be saved from dismantling and considered for transfer to Ukraine in the future.
However, Pål Jonson re-emphasized that the ongoing deployment of American F-16 Fighting Falcons and associated infrastructure in the Ukrainian Air Force currently remains the top priority for the "fighter jet coalition" which includes Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Hence the prospect of sending Swedish Gripens to Ukraine is put on hold for now.
"It is not in the hands of ourselves, but on export licenses and other partners in the fighter coalition who are waiting to donate the Gripen until they have gone further with the F-16," Jonson said.
On a note from Defense Express, the detail about 14 kits of spares could account for several explanations: one is that 14 is the number of JAS 39 Gripen aircraft Stockholm is considering for transfer, and the second is related to Sweden's capacity also to maintain this many jets. Considering the fleets of the country's previous customers, with 14 Gripens operated by Hungary, and 14 by the Czech Republic, the upkeep of such a squadron seems like a standard export practice.
Notably, Pål Jonson provided no updates regarding the planned delivery of Saab 340 (ACS890) aerial early warning and control aircraft which is essential to realize the full potential of Western-type multirole fighter aircraft by providing accurate target data. Sweden has committed to supplying two Saab 340s to Ukraine in May 2024.
Earlier Defense Express pointed out that the standard training course on this AEW&C system lasts about 7 to 8 months, implying that the new asset could reach operating capability by the end of 2024.
Read more: Sweden Can Strengthen Ukrainian Air Force Not Only with Saab 340 AEW&C, But with Gripen Fighter Jets Too
