Sweden will send its Ukraine's 17th aid package with additional military support worth a total of 4.6 billion Swedish kroner ($443 million), Defense Minister Pal Jonsson said on Monday, quoted by "Reuters".
The new package will include ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles already donated by Sweden, as well as purchases that would facilitate the transfer of Gripen fighter jets. in the future, although no decision has yet been taken on such a transfer.
"We want to have the ability to donate the 'Flu' of Ukraine at a possible later stage," Jonsson said at a press conference.
Jonsson added that the support includes additional boats, missiles and camouflage equipment, as well as funding for defense procurement for Ukraine. The measures were decided in close cooperation with Kyiv.
About half of the value of the package consists of parts necessary for the production of the latest fighter model "Gripen" for Sweden's own air force. This means that Sweden will not need, as previously planned, to cannibalize existing C/D models as part of the upgrade, which would allow the older aircraft to be transferred to Ukraine at a possible future date.
"At the moment there is no plan to transfer the 'Gripen' of Ukraine as it would prevent the introduction of the F-16," the government said in a statement.