STOCKHOLM, Sept 9 (Askume) – Sweden will provide Ukraine with its 17th aid package, including military assistance totalling 4.6 billion Swedish kronor ($443 million), Defence Minister Pal Jonsson said on Monday.
The new package will also include purchases of infantry fighting vehicle ammunition already donated by Sweden, as well as facilitating the future transfer of Gripen fighter jets, although such a transfer has not yet been finalised.
“We hope that we will be able to donate Gripens to Ukraine at a later date,” Johnson said at a news conference.
Johnson said the aid included additional combat aircraft, missiles and camouflage equipment, as well as funding to support Ukraine’s defense purchases. These measures were decided in close cooperation with Kiev.
About half of the value of the package is parts needed to produce the latest Gripen E fighter jets for the Swedish Air Force. This means that Sweden does not need to destroy its existing C/D models during the upgrade process as previously planned, allowing the older aircraft to be transferred to Ukraine at a possible future date.
“The transfer of JAS Gripens aircraft to Ukraine is not currently being considered as it would disrupt the supply of F-16 aircraft,” the government said in a statement.
(1 USD = 10.3724 SEK)
