STOCKHOLM: Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson on Monday said that Stockholm will send its 17th assistance package to Ukraine with more military support worth $443 million.
The new package will include arms for infantry fighting vehicles already donated by Sweden, as well as purchases that would help transfer Gripen fighter jets in the future, though no final decision has been made on such transfer.
“We want to have the ability to donate Gripens to Ukraine at a possible later stage,” Jonson told a press conference.
Jonson added support included additional combat boats, camouflage gear, missiles as well as funding to support defence procurements for Ukraine. The decision was made in close collaboration with Kyiv.
About half of the value of the package consisted of parts required in Sweden’s production of the latest model Gripen E fighters for its own air force.
The government in a statement said it is not on the cards to transfer JAS Gripens to Ukraine as this would disturb the induction of F-16s.
