Stockholm: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Wednesday that Stockholm has signed a letter of intent to export up to 150 of its domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. This came after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Qatar News Agency, the two sides held talks in Linkoping, southern Sweden, and also visited Saab, the manufacturer of the JAS 39 Gripen, the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, missile systems, anti-tank infantry weapons, and other equipment. Kristersson explained at a press conference that the two countries signed a long-term cooperation agreement in the field of air defense, which includes the possibility of exporting between 100 and 150 Gripen fighter jets, in what would be the largest aircraft export deal in Sweden’s history.
“We fully realize that we have a long way to go,” Kristersson said. “But from today on, we are committed to exploring all possibilities to supply Ukraine with a significant number of Gripen fighters in the future.”