— We are conducting parallel talks with Sweden, France and the USA. The overall demand is for a fleet of 250 new aircraft. This is our future, the president revealed in a conversation with journalists, quoted by Ukrainian media on Tuesday.
According to the head of state, the combat aviation fleet will provide Ukraine with security guarantees for the long future.
Talks with producers are ongoing
— We are talking to three manufacturers, F-16, Gripen and Rafale. Taking into account the experience of our pilots and the enemy's capabilities, this is the optimal choice for Ukraine, Zelensky said.
The priority is Swedish Gripen aircraft, he explained. As he emphasized, their operation is the cheapest, and pilot training takes only about six months. Moreover, these planes can even take off from road routes and are compatible with most types of weapons used by Ukraine.
— When it comes to Gripen, you can attach anything to it. You can probably install almost anything Ukraine uses there; missiles and other weapons – noted Zelensky, quoted by the RBK-Ukraina website.
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What aircraft are included in Ukraine's fleet?
Who is Ukraine talking to regarding the purchase of aircraft?
Why is Gripen a priority choice?
How many Gripen aircraft does Ukraine plan to purchase?
Last week, Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed a preliminary agreement on Ukraine's purchase of 100 to 150 JAS 39 Gripen E combat aircraft, the latest version of these machines.
Ukraine will expand the use of missiles
The President of Ukraine also told journalists about plans to expand the use of missiles of his own production, Flamingo and Ruta. — Flamingo, there was a combat use. Ruta, there was combat use. We are doing everything we can to prevent this from being attempted this year [używać do ataków] one, two, three [rakiet]but seriously. We're going in that direction. We think we will succeed. We count on it very much because of our repeated use [takich pocisków] demonstrated that an effective result can be achieved, he noted.
Zelensky also revealed that of European long-range weapons, Ukraine only uses Storm Shadow missiles in “normal quantities” and, in smaller numbers, SCALP, because Kiev does not have other such weapons. Zelensky emphasized that 90-95 percent successful firing of long-range missiles is carried out using domestically produced weapons, the Interfax-Ukraine agency reported.
