By KYIV. Sept 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian pilots have completed familiarization training on Swedish Gripen fighters, Sveriges Radio reports, citing a statement by Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson.
According to the information, the pilots underwent introductory training, which includes test flights both on an airplane and on a simulator, as well as briefings for other personnel.
According to Defense Minister Johnson, the familiarization training experience “should become the basis for finding out whether there are conditions for sending Gripen aircraft to Ukraine.”
In August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian pilots had begun training on the JAS 39 Gripen fighter. Zelenskyy also informed about negotiations with the Swedish government regarding the provision of these aircraft to Ukraine.
Later, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that the country needs planes for its own defense, because the country’s application to join the Alliance has not yet been completed. At the same time, he did not rule out the transfer of fighters to Ukraine in the future.
