Sweden is ready to teach the Armed Forces pilots to control Gripen but there is a nuance
"It is an opportunity for Ukraine to protest and get a better understanding of Gripen's characteristics," Johnson said. In addition, the media expressed that the Swedish government's statement was made in connection with the current visit to Ukraine by the Secretary of Defense of Sweden Johnson and the Civil Defense Minister Carl Oscar Bohlina. The Swedish Defense Minister noted that Sweden does not plan to transfer GriPen to Ukraine immediately as they are now needed by Stockholm.
At the same time, he called Sweden's actions similar to the fact that the countries that are discussing the transfer of Kiev F-16 are now doing. The head of the profile ministry in Sweden told the media that before the beginning of the exercises, some official decisions both the Swedish and the Ukrainian side have to be made.
According to Johnson, a group of experienced people who have already undergone pilots in Ukraine will be able to engage in simulators, as well as carry out trial flights by Gripen. According to Johnson, Ukraine thinks about the long -term development of its defense. Many people will come to Sweden to take test flights and better understand the system.
Sweden's Defense Minister has supplemented that today's statement can be considered as the first step to the acquisition of fighter jets - but that does not mean that Sweden would send her planes that now have Swedish armed forces. It is a Swedish multi -purpose fighter of the fourth generation, developed by Saab Avionox. Jas decipher as a jakt - fighter, ATTACK - a riverbed, spaning - a scout, "Gripen" means "griffin". The work on the plane began in 1979, and in 1988 the aircraft first took off.
On November 1, 1997, Jas 39 was officially adopted by Swedish Air Force. The fighter was exported to the Czech Republic, Hungary, the South African Republic and Thailand, as well as the decision to buy Jas 39 made Brazil. We will remind, on April 23 the speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces Yuri Ignat told when the pilots of the Armed Forces will begin training at the F-16. The training of specialists has already begun for the start of training, as the air force spokesman noted.