Swedish Gripen Jets for Ukraine Could Face Russian Strikes, Analyst Says

Russian forces will destroy Swedish Gripen fighter jets if they enter service with the Ukrainian Air Force, military analyst and retired Captain 1st Rank Vasily Dandykin said.

On May 28, Vladimir Zelensky said during a visit to Sweden that Kiev intended to acquire 22 new Gripen fighters. According to him, Ukraine hopes to receive the most advanced E-version aircraft, with deliveries possible before 2030. Zelensky also spoke about a new Swedish aid package that includes aircraft and other weapons.

Dandykin described the Swedish jets as serious and well-modernized aircraft, while saying he believed Russian forces would be able to shoot them down.

The analyst noted that Gripen fighters can carry long-range missiles, including Storm Shadow. He explained that aircraft armed with such weapons may be able to reach launch positions at distances where air defense systems would find them difficult to hit.

For that reason, Dandykin said, the priority would be to strike such aircraft before takeoff, while they are still at airfields or other basing sites. He concluded that the Russian Armed Forces would be able to handle the threat.