this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
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I feel like this is more trouble than it's worth. Ukraine doesn't need to be training pilots and ground crew on two completely new aircraft that no one in Ukraine's forces are familiar with.
This might be a good decision in peace time. But Ukraine is fighting for existence. They won't care about the most efficient approach. They will care about bring as much capacity to the fight they can. If they can't get more f16s these aircraft are likely to be welcome.
That's what I'm referring to, though. Trying to field Grippens as well will diminish their capability of fielding F16s.
We also don't know what Ukraine think of this offer at this stage, right now Sweden is trying to negotiate its way into NATO, they're interested in convincing NATO regardless of what Ukraine wants.
Their nation is spending something like half its budget if not more on defence, they can manage a few dozen jets.
Besides, they'll have to phase out their soviet era jets at some point because of the sheer age of them soon. Those Su-24 etc airframes are probably in rough shape by this point.