Ukrainian pilots have completed a first training with Sweden's Gripen fighter jets, the Scandinavian country said Thursday, Sept. 14, although it has not yet confirmed whether Stockholm will donate any of the jets to Kyiv.
Sweden said in May that it would invite Ukrainian pilots and ground crew to undergo preliminary training on the jets made by defence group Saab.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM!
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
"The orientation training has been completed and according to the report I received from the defence forces, the training went well," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said in remarks emailed to AFP.
The preliminary training "included test flights both in the aircraft and simulators and information sessions for ground crew," Jonsson said.
The experience would "form the basis of the ongoing work to determine" whether Sweden can donate some of its Gripens, Jonson added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing Western allies to provide it with modern fighter jets to help defend itself against Russia.
Allies have hesitated for various reasons, including fears it could escalate the conflict and the need to train Ukrainian pilots.
In late August, Copenhagen and The Hague announced they would donate American F-16 jets to Kyiv, with Oslo following suit shortly afterwards.
The planes are to be delivered once the pilots are trained.
The United States is also training Ukrainian pilots.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised the donations to Kyiv, saying they would only "prolong the conflict."
Russia Shells Village in Luhansk Region During Humanitarian Aid Distribution, Says Local Official
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Comments (2)
Gripens could be flown via Poland to Sweden for advanced maintenance and repair done by Ukrainians under Swedish supervision.
The Gripen is far more ergonomic, significantly easer to operate and maintain, much more cost effective, and better suited for dispersed operations than the F 16
Perhaps best to use the Gripen equipped with AMRAAM, Meteor and Sidewinder 9X purely for air defence and counter air.
Pilots could be trained for this limited role in 3 - 4 months, and then rotate into advanced training over time. .
The F16 could then be focused on counter air and ground attack.