Sweden announces 17th aid package to Ukraine

Sweden will dispatch its 17th aid package to Ukraine, providing additional military support worth 4.6 billion Swedish crowns ($443 million).

Defense Minister Pål Jonson ananunced that the new package will include ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles already donated by Sweden, as well as purchases that would facilitate a transfer of Gripen fighter jets in the future, though no such transfer has been decided on yet, News.Az reports citing foreign media.

"We want to have the ability to donate Gripens to Ukraine at a possible later stage," Jonson told a press conference on Monday.

Jonson said support included additional combat boats, missiles, and camouflage gear, as well as funding to support defense procurements for Ukraine. The measures were decided in close collaboration with Kyiv.

About half of the value of the package consisted of parts needed in Sweden's production of the latest model Gripen E fighters for its own air force.

This would mean Sweden would not, as previously planned, need to cannibalize its existing C/D models as part of the upgrade, allowing the older jets to get transferred to Ukraine at a possible future date.

"At present, it is not on the cards to transfer JAS Gripens to Ukraine as this would disturb the introduction of F-16s," the government said in a statement.

News.Az