Made to take on Russia, Swedish Gripen fighter jets should go to Ukraine

Made to take on Russia, Swedish Gripen fighter jets should go to Ukraine: Report - Breaking Defense

The recommendation from RUSI reopens debate around Western fighter jets being sent to Ukraine, with the Swedish aircraft being tipped to provide exceptional operation value, especially against Russian long-range missile strikes.

breakingdefense.com

The recommendation from RUSI reopens debate around Western fighter jets being sent to Ukraine, with the Swedish aircraft being tipped to provide exceptional operation value, especially against Russian long-range missile strikes.​

Tim Martin

JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets escort a US B-52 Stratofortress from Bomber Task Force over Swedish airspace (Saab)

DUBLIN – A leading defense think tank has called on international policymakers to consider supplying the Ukrainian Air Force with Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter jets.

Authors from the UK-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said in a reportMonday that after looking at the Russian air war and requirements for Ukrainian air defense, the Swedish aircraft was “by far the most suitable candidate” of Western-manufactured combat jets that could meet operational needs.

Transfer of Gripens would advance Ukrainian short- to medium-term planning by minimizing the risk of sustaining Russian long-range missile strikes, according to the report.

The authors also warned that delivery of the aircraft, alongside SAM launchers, missile ammunition and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns are all critical to preventing a new Russian strike campaign, which, if not contested, could lead to a dramatic shift in the current momentum of the war.

“Conceptually, the Swedish Air Force has always emphasised low-level air superiority tactics from dispersed bases, in a similar manner to how the Ukrainian Air Force currently operates, and so the Gripen was designed with ground support equipment and maintenance requirements compatible with that approach,” stated the publication. “The electronic warfare suite on the Gripen C/D is also optimised specifically for countering Russian fighter and SAM radars.”

RELATED: The US military now seems open to gifting Ukraine new fighter jets, but what type?

Additionally, the authors cite Gripen’s anti-ship capability and integration of MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) and ramjet propulsion design being “less adversely affected” by counterthreats, compared to weapons with rocket-powered propulsion. Air launched weapons relying on rocket powered technology are widely considered to be more exposed to ground based threats because of their “low and slow” capability profiles.

“Since April, VKS [Russian Air Force] pilots have been extremely reluctant to aggressively fight their way into Ukrainian airspace due to the losses taken during early attempts,” note the RUSI authors. “The threat of Ukrainian SAM and MANPADS engagements has shaped the behaviour and constrained the effectiveness of Russian pilots significantly.

“Therefore, even a few modern Western fighters with long-range missiles able to meet the Russians on technically equal or even superior terms would likely have a disproportionate deterrent effect.”

Despite such analysis reopening debate over whether or not European or US decision makers should approve Western-made fighter jets being sent to Ukraine, tensions around the matter, often linked to fears of conflict escalation, permissions for sorties being flown from NATO territory and training difficulties, continue to hold up progress.

 

[Oldman1]

Well.. lately Gripen sales has been rather.. meh.. even though it's an excellent platform for its size, capabilities and price.. having Ukraine use it successfully against Russia just might be the boost needed for it to be more successful in the international market..

Would help Sweden's military industry as well in supporting Ukraine currently and long term replacement of Soviet aircraft. Not to mention the collaboration between Sweden and Ukraine.

Well, Ukraine don't need to pay for them, US has fund for that.

But the issue is not simply whether they can afford, or fly them, but where to host them. Every airbase in Ukraine are fair game and can be touched by Russia drone and missile, the risk are high, and then you need to consider how to fix these aircraft, and lcoation to fix this aircraft.

Unless Ukraine can fly these off and maintain these in Poland or something, This will never happen

Every airbase in Ukraine was already fair game and the Ukrainians are doing their best to protect and hide their aircraft, otherwise we wouldn't be seeing any flying currently. And considering the Gripen can takeoff on roads as well as use NATO weaponry and would benefit our new NATO ally Sweden, well it's worth considering.

 

[Oldman1]

Sweden has 90-100 Gripen C/Ds and plan to keep maybe 40 of them when the Gripen E is fully inducted in the Swedish Air Force.
There will be surplus Gripen Cs available to an affordable price, but it will take time.

So around 60 Gripens that could be exported in near future. When is the Gripen E being introduced and how fast are they building them?

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

So around 60 Gripens that could be exported in near future. When is the Gripen E being introduced and how fast are they building them?

The plan is to enter full service with the first fighter division in Jan 1, 2025.
One Year ago, 30 aircraft were in production out of the ordered 96.
The Gripen C is planned to serve in reduced numbers until 2035.

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

The plan is to enter full service with the first fighter division in Jan 1, 2025.
One Year ago, 30 aircraft were in production out of the ordered 96.
The Gripen C is planned to serve in reduced numbers until 2035.

How much does 32 Gripen will cost (E series)? Without any ToT, just with operation infrastructure and maintenance facility.

Gripen is a great choice for a small country without any global ambition...

 

[nahtanbob]

First of all, not sure if you know GOP failed to win the Senate, and not going to win the House in a big margin, that is if they win at all, there are still pathway for dem to hold the house. Which mean policy already made cannot be rolled back by GOP because they don't control senate, you need the senate majority to roll back any bill.

Second of all, the current bill that Pres Biden signed into law provided 40 billion funding, of those only 18.3 billion was used, also for US to transfer any existing article to Ukraine in lend lease program, which had yet to be used, both bills already passed, again, unless the Dem themselves roll it back, GOP can't do squat. Which mean US still have 21.7 billion to spend WITHOUT passing any new bill and also with lend lease option.

And finally, supporting Ukraine have bi-partisan agreement, with GOP win the house with minimal number, which mean neocon control would also be minimal number, it's not really hard to pass bill that support Ukraine, they may need to make compromise, but seeing the progress in the ground, they are more than willing to print toilet paper to screw with Russia and more likely China in the next 2 years.

There are enough non-Trump GOP members in Congress to bolster Ukraine. I see no troubles until Dec 2024

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

How much does 32 Gripen will cost (E series)? Without any ToT, just with operation infrastructure and maintenance facility.

Gripen is a great choice for a small country without any global ambition...

Sweden is paying a fixed price of 35,6B SEK for the development and production of 60 Aircraft. At the current exchange rate, this is $57,2M per aircraft.
What SAAB will charge is of course up to them.

 

[nahtanbob]

Sweden is paying a fixed price of 35,6B SEK for the development and production of 60 Aircraft. At the current exchange rate, this is $57,2M per aircraft.
What SAAB will charge is of course up to them.

that is a good price to accomplish the project. I realize the engine is imported from USA

 

[Super Falcon]

USA now already backing up since global economic Al crisis which hit USA hard due to this Ukraine war and USA already asked Ukraine to start talks with Russia and end this war we cannot sending you weapons already spent 18 billions and time to bail out so no one ready to pay for these jets and USA weapons stockpile is also getting at alarming low

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

that is a good price to accomplish the project. I realize the engine is imported from USA

There are factors like currency exchange rates which I do not know the effect of.
They will certainly affect the price to other customers.

USA now already backing up since global economic Al crisis which hit USA hard due to this Ukraine war and USA already asked Ukraine to start talks with Russia and end this war we cannot sending you weapons already spent 18 billions and time to bail out so no one ready to pay for these jets and USA weapons stockpile is also getting at alarming low

The US defense budget is what? $7-800B per years, and now one of the main adversaries is decimated at the cost of $18B. It is really cheap for the US.

 

[nahtanbob]

There are factors like currency exchange rates which I do not know the effect of.
They will certainly affect the price to other customers.


The US defense budget is what? $7-800B per years, and now one of the main adversaries is decimated at the cost of $18B. It is really cheap for the US.

Not to mention all the intelligence gathered on Russian military hardware, tactics & personnel

 

[jhungary]

Would help Sweden's military industry as well in supporting Ukraine currently and long term replacement of Soviet aircraft. Not to mention the collaboration between Sweden and Ukraine.


Every airbase in Ukraine was already fair game and the Ukrainians are doing their best to protect and hide their aircraft, otherwise we wouldn't be seeing any flying currently. And considering the Gripen can takeoff on roads as well as use NATO weaponry and would benefit our new NATO ally Sweden, well it's worth considering.

Well, even so, you still need to have the country planned before you can use highway or motorway as runway, Sweden had that planned, so did the US, Japan and Taiwan and even Australia (We call them bush strip) I don't think Ukraine had that planning goes into urban planning.

And then even if they do, it just solves one of the problems, how do you maintain them? You can't teach Ukrainian to maintain Western Jet which they have not done before in weeks, it's a multiple year process, flying them is not really the matter here, how to and where to fix them is. And then you also have to consider the effectiveness of just a few unit (They can probably equip 2 squadron if they dump the remaining money US budgeted for) that would not impact the battlefield that much than smaller drone platform.

There are talks in Ukrainian government to give each soldier a drone and controller, there are about 800,000 troop on the frontline, if they all armed with drone. I would say that's a better incentive than sending Ukrainian a squadron or 2 western jet..

USA now already backing up since global economic Al crisis which hit USA hard due to this Ukraine war and USA already asked Ukraine to start talks with Russia and end this war we cannot sending you weapons already spent 18 billions and time to bail out so no one ready to pay for these jets and USA weapons stockpile is also getting at alarming low

18 bil is not even 1/10 of the black budget US reserve for Intelligence Activities.

This war in Ukraine is intelligence super trove for the US, it gives insight on how Russia, one of the main adversaries, fights, and how good or bad their equipment performed. I am sure even if Congress stopped funding Ukraine now (Which is highly UNLIKELY given the Senate remain with the dem and GOP would not have a big lead in the house) CIA will most definitely continue to fund this operation using their black budget by either supplimenting NATO allies (like Poland and Romania or Czech) to supply US made or Israel made weapon from a third party or directly supply them under the table. I mean how do you know that particular HIMARS system Ukraine use were from before or after Congress stopped funding?

As other pointed out. THIS IS A VERY CHEAP ADVENTURE....

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Well, even so, you still need to have the country planned before you can use highway or motorway as runway, Sweden had that planned, so did the US, Japan and Taiwan and even Australia (We call them bush strip) I don't think Ukraine had that planning goes into urban planning.

And then even if they do, it just solves one of the problems, how do you maintain them? You can't teach Ukrainian to maintain Western Jet which they have not done before in weeks, it's a multiple year process, flying them is not really the matter here, how to and where to fix them is.

No, Sweden teaches conscripts to maintain Gripen in 9-15 months.
9 months for privates and 12/15 months for NCOs. Most of the crew is privates.
Each Gripen team need one ”expert” which needs multi-year training,

 

[jhungary]

No, Sweden teaches conscripts to maintain Gripen in 9-15 months.
9 months for privates and 12/15 months for NCOs. Most of the crew is privates.
Each Gripen team need one ”expert” which needs multi-year training,

That still 1.25 years.........which mean Multi-year......

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

That still 1.25 years.........which mean Multi-year......

As I said, most will do 9 months of service, and they get to work on the Gripen after a few months.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]