The Swedish Gripen fighter is a good alternative to the F-16 for several reasons, Sergey Nikiforov said.
Ukraine is committed to acquiring four types of aircraft from Western partners. Presidential speaker Sergei Nikiforov said this on the air of the telethon on Saturday, August 19.
“We are really focused on the F-16, the reason is that there are more produced and purely mathematically easier to get. But we are not only focused on them. We have, let’s say, in order of desirability to get a list of four types of aircraft: F-16, Gripen, French Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon,” said Nikiforov.
He noted that the Swedish Gripen aircraft is a good alternative.
“It is universal, it is less demanding, and it has shown itself very well. Ukrainian pilots are now being tested on this type of aircraft, and the tests are very good,” said the President.
According to Nikiforov, in order to discuss the acquisition of this type of aircraft, it is necessary to take three steps: testing the aircraft and the capabilities of Ukrainian pilots, which is currently ongoing, training, political consent, and then just give this equipment.
“At the moment, this is a theoretical possibility. We are looking at what can be done,” Nikiforov summed up.
Recall that today President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Sweden, where he met with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. During the negotiations, the question of the possible transfer of Gripen fighters to Ukraine was raised.
In June it became known that Sweden would train the Ukrainians on the Gripen. Then it is about the initial training of Ukrainian pilots and technical aviation personnel.
Source: korrespondent
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