Ukrainian pilots complete introductory training on Gripen fighter jets

The Ukrainian pilots have completed introductory training on Gripen fighter jets.

Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson made such an announcement on September 14.

Testing of the Ukrainian Armed Forces pilots on Swedish aircraft began in August 2013.

“The introductory training has been completed, and according to the report I received from the armed forces, the training went well,” the Minister said.

The training of Ukrainian military pilots comprised training on simulators and practical flights on JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.

The course also included training for maintenance personnel for Swedish combat aircraft.

According to Jonson, the experience gained during this training will be the basis for determining whether the conditions are right to send Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.

As previously reported, on August 19, during the visit to Sweden, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that the pilots of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were testing Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.

Several experienced Ukrainian pilots came to the tests, the Swedish Defense Minister said.

Militarnyi recently reported that the Swedish government is considering donating JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.

The Swedes want to find out how the transfer of the fighter jets will affect the country’s defense capabilities and how quickly the Royal Air Force will be able to get new replacement fighters. The Swedish Armed Forces will provide their response in November, after which the government will be able to decide whether to send fighter jets to Ukraine.

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multi-role fighter produced by the Swedish Saab AB aerospace company. The aircraft is in service with the armies of Sweden, Thailand, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, and Brazil.