The 17th support package to Ukraine was presented at a press conference with, among others, Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).
The package includes six combat boats, grenade launchers, grenade rifles, armor-piercing missiles, tank mines, and more robots for the air defense system Robot 70. The air defense system itself was included in an earlier support package announced in 2022.
Another part of the package involves buying material to later donate to Ukraine, such as ammunition for the combat vehicles 90 that Sweden gave to Ukraine in 2023.
These combat vehicles have proven to be very effective for Ukraine's defense, says the Sweden Democrats' foreign policy spokesperson Aron Emilsson.
Paving the way for Gripen
Half of the total package of 4.6 billion kronor will go towards buying new parts for the upcoming new fighter jet Gripen E. This paves the way for Sweden to be able to give Gripen planes of the older models C and D to Ukraine.
However, today's announcement does not mean that it is clear that Sweden will donate Gripen planes. That decision has not yet been made.
We are taking steps to maintain our freedom of action to potentially give Gripen to Ukraine at a later stage, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).
Right now, the focus for Sweden is on Ukraine being able to use the F16 planes, which several countries have contributed, together with the two radar reconnaissance and command planes that Sweden promised Ukraine earlier this year.
Fewer scrapped
The idea was to take parts from the 96 existing older Gripen models C and D to the new 60 Gripen E that the Riksdag has ordered, in order to keep costs down.
By now allocating 2.3 billion kronor to buy more entirely new parts for Gripen E, fewer C/D models will need to be scrapped.
If Sweden does not donate Gripen to Ukraine, the Swedish defense will have more available Gripen planes of the older model, notes Jonson.
The Social Democrats support the new Ukraine package, but former Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S) wants the government to clearly state that Ukraine will receive Gripen planes.
The line must be crystal clear. Gripen is going to Ukraine. Period.
Hultqvist is calling for a more comprehensive plan to achieve this goal, including training Ukrainian pilots.
The Center Party's defense policy spokesperson Mikael Larsson wants the government to allocate more money and start a pilot training program.
Sweden's 17 support packages to Ukraine have a total value of 48.1 billion kronor.
In the latest package of 4.6 billion, the following is included:
Six combat boats with launchers for 500 million kronor.
Grenade launchers, grenade rifles, armor-piercing missiles, tank mines, and more robots for the air defense system Robot 70 for 500 million kronor.
Procurement for Ukraine of, among other things, ammunition for combat vehicles 90, camouflage for armored personnel carriers 302, and drones for 1.3 billion.
New parts for Gripen E for 2.3 billion.
Source: Ministry of Defense
