Summary and Key Points: Sweden has halted plans to send Saab JAS 39 Gripens to Ukraine, prioritizing F-16 deliveries instead. This decision aims to streamline the introduction of new fighter jets to Ukrainian pilots. The U.S. and NATO have pledged to supply Ukraine with numerous F-16s to bolster its defenses against Russia.

-Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has relied on Western military support, including tanks, munitions, and aircraft. Although the Gripen is a capable fourth-generation fighter, its impact on the conflict is uncertain due to Russia's advanced surface-to-air missile systems

-The addition of F-16s and potential future Gripens will enhance Ukraine's aerial capabilities.

Sweden Halts JAS 39 Gripen Delivery to Ukraine: F-16s Take Priority

Last month, Sweden announced it was nixing its plans to send Saab JAS 39 Gripens to Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Defense Minister Pal Jonson noted that the country’s partners wanted to prioritize the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine instead. Since introducing multiple new fighter programs to Ukrainian pilots at once could complicate things, a focus on the American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon platform is necessary.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have promised to deliver dozens of fighter jets to Kyiv in order to aid the country’s defensive efforts against Russia. Since the invasion began back in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have relied heavily on weapons shipments provided by Western countries.

From main battle tanks (MBTs) and munitions to airframes and fighting infantry vehicles, Kyiv has been well equipped to counter Moscow’s ongoing advances.

While the White House initially was hesitant to provide the F-16 Fighting Falcon to Ukraine, the Biden administration reversed policy last year and green lit the delivery of these fourth-gen fighters. The Gripen could also be delivered to Kyiv down the line.

Introducing the Saab 39 Gripen:

The homegrown JAS 39 Gripen is perhaps Sweden’s most impressive fighter to date. Developed by the Swedish aerospace company Saab, this multirole fighter was conceptualized during the Cold War to replace Sweden’s aging airframes.

Specifically, Swedish officials desired a successor to the Draken and Viggen platforms that could reach speeds in excess of Mach-2.0 (times the speed of sound) in flight and be able to carry a larger payload. The fighter is compatible with a wide array of armaments, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the RBS-15 anti-ship missile, the 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon and the MBDA Meteor missile.

Over the years, several upgraded Gripen 39 variants were introduced by Saab. The Gripen C/D and E planes are the latest iterations of this platform, equipped with new cockpits featuring modern electronic displays and more advanced weapon systems.

As of this fall, the C/D variants are expected to receive power system upgrades that should culminate in enhanced performances at a lower cost. GKN Aerospace was awarded the contract to revamp the RM12 engine installed on the JAS 39 Gripen C/D/ fighter.

As detailed by Bulgarian Military, the RM12 is a “single-shaft engine with a low bypass ratio, which means that a significant portion of the air entering the engine is used for combustion rather than bypassing the engine core. This design allows for a compact and lightweight engine, ideal for fighter aircraft. The engine also features advanced technologies such as a digital engine control system, which ensures precise and efficient operation.”

While the Gripen is certainly a robust fourth-generation platform, its presence in the ongoing invasion will not necessarily give Ukraine the upper hand. Moscow’s arsenal of advanced surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) pose a real threat even to the most sophisticated fourth-generation fighter platforms in service today.

The possible addition of Gripens (and certain F-16s) to Kyiv’s fleet will give the country’s aerial capabilities an edge, however, may not be enough to thwart Moscow’s advances.

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons.