Britain will benefit from Ukrainian order for 16 new Swedish Gripen E fighters thanks to own industry involvement in production. So it will also financially support this procurement.
As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced, €300 million will be provided. This will help both modernize Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Force and support approximately 5,000 jobs at British companies.
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Defense Express notes British are not EU members, accordingly not involved in direct financing under €90 billion loan. Instead they joined on terms of contributing funds proportional to their company involvement.
As we previously wrote, Britain was very pleased with Ukraine's Gripen E purchase, as it manufactures over 30% of aircraft components including Leonardo UK's Raven ES-05 AESA radar. Overall over fifty companies are involved in process.
Thus following EU loan terms, British must contribute to loan funds proportional to contract value concluded by Ukraine with British companies. Although we do not know exact percentage, known is Ukrainian-Swedish interstate agreement spoke of €2.5 billion, while firm order for 16 fighters from Saab cost approximately €2.2 billion, from which €300 million appears as difference between agreements rather than third of value.
Worth noting interesting nuance here — within Gripen work, contracts with British are signed not by Ukraine directly but as supply chain part. Meaning unknown how loan terms apply to this. Possibly these €300 million difference serves as British project share and will be used in separate agreements from already signed with Saab, but we have no precise confirmation.
Overall Britain continues providing military assistance to Ukraine, including for Armed Forces Air Force modernization. Worth mentioning it is also engaged in Ukrainian pilot training.
From other aspects, recent dispatch of first ordered eighteen months ago 105mm and 155mm artillery barrels. Also it supports air defense system, like LMM missiles for countering russian drones.
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