In addition to the Gripen aircraft, Ukraine could also receive Europe's most powerful air-to-air missile
A future batch of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets destined for Ukraine could be equipped with the Meteor, considered the most advanced air-to-air missile produced in Europe, which would give Kiev a significantly increased ability to hit Russian aircraft from a long distance, writes Business Insider.
Gripen plane, armed with Meteor missiles/FOTO:X
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mihailo Fedorov discussed in a telephone conversation with his Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson on Sunday the possibility of Sweden supplying Ukraine with both Gripen aircraft and Meteor missiles, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense in Kyiv.
According to the Ukrainian side, these long-range missiles are “key tools for countering aircraft carrying aerial guided bombs,” one of the most serious threats to Ukraine in the current conflict. Russian guided bombs can be launched from long distances, beyond the range of many air defense systems, and are extremely difficult to intercept.
Meteor, the “jewel in the crown” among European air-to-air missiles
The Meteor missile is a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air system, developed by the European MBDA consortium, and is considered by experts to be the best-performing missile of its type in service on the continent.
At nearly four meters long and weighing more than 180 kilograms, the Meteor can be launched from several types of Western fighter jets, including Gripen, Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. Its range exceeds 120 kilometers and its speed reaches over Mach 4.
Unlike many long-range missiles, which lose energy in the final phase of flight, the Meteor is powered by a jet engine that allows it to maintain speed until interception. According to the manufacturer, this gives it the largest “no-escape zone” of any existing air-to-air missile, drastically reducing the chances of an enemy aircraft being able to evade it.
Sweden was one of the first countries to introduce Meteor as equipment, starting in 2016.
A major step for the modernization of the Ukrainian Air Force
The Meteor missile talks come more than three months after Ukraine and Sweden signed a letter of intent to export up to 150 Gripen jets to Kiev. The deal has not yet been finalized, but such a transfer would represent a major step in modernizing the Ukrainian air force.
Currently, Ukraine's aviation is based mainly on aircraft of Soviet origin, recently supplemented by a limited number of American F-16 and French Mirage 2000 aircraft.
Gripen, produced by the Swedish company Saab, is considered by military analysts as one of the most suitable Western aircraft for the operating conditions in Ukraine. The device is designed to operate from improvised runways, has low maintenance requirements and lends itself well to dispersed operations, reducing vulnerability to Russian attacks on air bases.
A wider aid package in preparation
Although no final decision has yet been made on the inclusion of Meteor missiles, recent discussions suggest that they could be part of future weapons packages.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced that Sweden was preparing a “large-scale” aid package that would include air defense systems, radars, electronic warfare equipment and drones.
If it comes to fruition, the combined transfer of Gripen aircraft and Meteor missiles could significantly change the balance of forces in the air, giving Ukraine a real ability to keep Russian aviation at bay and limit the effectiveness of guided missile bombing.
