1/ Ukrainian fighter pilot Vadym Voroshylov says Sweden's Gripen is "the only fighter jet in the world I'd sell my soul for."
Stockholm and Kyiv have struck a deal on this workhorse Swedish fighter.
Here's why the Gripen is so vital to Ukraine 🇺🇦🇸🇪 🧵⤵️
2/ Sweden and Ukraine have agreed in theory on Gripens—with a plan that could scale to 100–150 jets, with manufacturer Saab even open to final-assembly work in Ukraine if the deal lands.
While American fighter jets are seen as the gold standard, ace pilot Vadym prefers Gripen ⤵️
3/ Gripens are less delicate than F-16s/F-35s.
Russia shreds Ukraine's runways with bombs and drones.
Gripen’s air intakes sit higher on the fuselage—so it’s less likely to swallow debris. Its engine is also tucked away, making the jet harder to spot on radar. ⤵️
4/ Gripen was built to fight without big airbases: launch from short road strips, refuel right there—even with the engine on—then move to the next site.
A small ground team can turn it around fast and get it back in the air. ⤵️
5/ A Gripen can be turned in ~10 min (fuel + weapons, per Saab).
F-16 hot-pit refuels often get a jet back up in <30 min (about 15 min fueling + quick checks).
Less time parked = safer jet & crew. ⤵️
6/ Weapon adaptability:
Gripen can carry both U.S. and European missiles and smart bombs. That means Ukraine can draw from a wider pool of munitions—more options, more shots, fewer bottlenecks. ⤵️
7/ “Gripen also has a ‘hot refuel’ option," writes Vadym, "refueling on the ground with the engine running — which, for me personally, is ‘I need this stuff.’” ⤵️
8/ Lower cost to fly = more flying.
Vadym: “We must think about what comes next.”
His rough compare: Gripen $5–8k/hr vs MiG-29 $10–15k/hr. Lower cost means more training and more sorties. ⤵️
9/ Vadym calls the Gripen the "smart fighter"—balanced combat capability, economy, and modern avionics.
Built for exactly what Ukraine faces: difficult takeoffs, constant strikes, and the need to do more with less. ⤵️
10/ "Thank you to everyone who lobbied for this," Vadym writes.
Ukraine and Sweden: showing smart-tech can outwit and outpunch a mighty tyranny.
Follow me for daily stories from Ukraine's full-scale resistance. 🧵🎬
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