Ukraine should not expect Swedish Gripen fighter jets to appear in its skies in the near future, officials from the Ukrainian Air Force have cautioned. According to Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force, the production and transfer of such advanced aircraft is a complex and lengthy process that no nation can accelerate overnight.
Yurii Ihnat emphasized that the Gripen project, while promising, requires patience and time.
Read more: Saab to Launch Air Defense Production in Ukraine, Could Aid Gripen Jet Manufacturing
"We shouldn't rush to use the word "soon". Aviation is a high-tech weapon. No country in the world can quickly manufacture such systems. Aircraft aren't something that can simply be bought, they are supplied only through intergovernmental agreements, which makes the process extremely complicated," he said.
Swedish-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft is one of Europe's most advanced multirole fighters, known for its flexibility, relatively low maintenance needs, and compatibility with NATO systems. For Ukraine, access to such aircraft would mark a major leap in combat aviation capability, especially as the country's Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 fleets continue to age under the strain of war.
Despite the challenges, Yurii Ihnat described the potential arrival of the Gripen jets as a crucial and positive signal for Ukraine's future.
"The Gripen is an aircraft that can be mastered by our pilots. It's a simpler platform to operate compared to other Western fighters. The prospect of acquiring them is a good sign, a step toward strengthening our aviation component," he noted.
Introducing the Gripen aircraft would not only modernize Ukraine's air fleet but also help integrate its forces more closely with NATO standards. The aircraft's design allows for rapid maintenance, operation from short or improvised runways, and compatibility with a wide range of Western weaponry, qualities that could be particularly advantageous for Ukraine's wartime needs.
However, officials stress that transitioning to Western fighter jets involves more than just aircraft delivery. It requires pilot training, infrastructure adaptation, logistics, and deep cooperation between defense ministries. Such groundwork takes months, or even years, before full operational capability is achieved.
Read more: How Ukraine May Localize Gripen Production and How Long the Process Will Take
