36 Gripen C/D fighters for Ukraine: not the newest or most advanced model
Sweden is delivering 36 Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine. They are not the latest or most advanced model: F-16s and Mirage 2000s outperform them. Low cost and spare parts autonomy are their strengths.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
36 Saab fighters for Ukraine: neither the latest model nor the most advanced
Sweden has announced the delivery of 36 Saab Gripen fighters to Ukraine, but they are not the shiny new Gripen E, rather refurbished second-hand C/D units. The headline has spread like wildfire, but the fine print is what matters: these aircraft will not fly in combat for years, according to MSN's own announcement. The reason is not technical, but logistical: training pilots and mechanics and integrating systems takes time.
Is the Gripen the most advanced fighter in Ukraine?
No, not by a long shot. The F-16AM/BM MLU delivered by the Netherlands and Denmark antiestéticature upgraded radar, BVR capability with AIM-120C missiles, and have been integrated into the NATO ecosystem from day one. The French Mirage 2000-5s are not far behind with their RDY radar. The Gripen C/D lags behind in tactical maturity. The Swedish model's advantage is operating cost: each flight hour is cheaper and spare parts do not depend exclusively on Washington.
Will the Gripen be of any use in the war?
It depends on expectations. As a miracle fighter, no. As a complement for secondary missions and to free up F-16 resources, yes. Resistance to American dependence is a point in its favor, but it does not change the board in the short term. Ukraine is adding a heterogeneous fleet that complicates logistics, but expands its sustainment capacity.
The debate makes it clear that the Swedish announcement is more smoke than fire: 36 fighters that will not fly tomorrow and that, when they do, will be neither the best nor the decisive ones. The fighter war remains NATO vs Russia, but with a Swedish stamp.
Related discussions in the forum
Sweden has announced the delivery of 36 Saab Gripen fighters to Ukraine, but they are not the shiny new Gripen E, rather refurbished second-hand C/D units. The headline has spread like wildfire, but the fine print is what matters: these aircraft will not fly in combat for years, according to MSN's own announcement. The reason is not technical, but logistical: training pilots and mechanics and integrating systems takes time.
Is the Gripen the most advanced fighter in Ukraine?
No, not by a long shot. The F-16AM/BM MLU delivered by the Netherlands and Denmark antiestéticature upgraded radar, BVR capability with AIM-120C missiles, and have been integrated into the NATO ecosystem from day one. The French Mirage 2000-5s are not far behind with their RDY radar. The Gripen C/D lags behind in tactical maturity. The Swedish model's advantage is operating cost: each flight hour is cheaper and spare parts do not depend exclusively on Washington.
Will the Gripen be of any use in the war?
It depends on expectations. As a miracle fighter, no. As a complement for secondary missions and to free up F-16 resources, yes. Resistance to American dependence is a point in its favor, but it does not change the board in the short term. Ukraine is adding a heterogeneous fleet that complicates logistics, but expands its sustainment capacity.
The debate makes it clear that the Swedish announcement is more smoke than fire: 36 fighters that will not fly tomorrow and that, when they do, will be neither the best nor the decisive ones. The fighter war remains NATO vs Russia, but with a Swedish stamp.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (12 replies).
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