Sweden looking at Ukrainian pilots test flying its Gripen fighter jets - broadcaster TV4

Sweden may allow a few Ukrainian fighter jet pilots to test fly the Nordic country's Gripen aircraft, its defence minister told broadcaster TV4 on Thursday.

Sweden may allow a few Ukrainian fighter jet pilots to test fly the Nordic country's Gripen aircraft, its defence minister told broadcaster TV4 on Thursday. Defence Minister Pal Jonson however repeated earlier comments that Sweden has no plans to send any of its Gripen to Ukraine as all six divisions are needed at home for the defence of the Swedish territory.

"This concerns the Ukrainians putting in inquiries about various kinds of aviation systems - it can be Tornados, F-16s or Gripens - so that they can test the kinds of platforms and systems that we and other countries operate," Jonson said. "We are now looking at the possibility that the Ukrainians can test the Gripen."

Such an initiative could involve test flights, trying simulators and learning about the fighter jet's ground support system that, he said, adding: "Some decisions remain, both on the Ukrainian and the Swedish side." The JAS 39 Gripen is produced by Swedish defence materials group SAAB.

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