Swedish company Saab ready to open Gripen fighter jet assembly plant in Ukraine – FT

The Swedish company Saab is prepared to open a plant in Ukraine for the final assembly of JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets as part of a proposed deal for Kyiv to purchase up to 150 of the aircraft, the Financial Times has reported.

Source: Financial Times

Details: Saab CEO Micael Johansson said a contract with Ukraine for 100-150 Gripen fighters would double the company's current production needs for the aircraft.

Quote: "It is not so easy during a war, but it would be great to set up a capacity for at least final assembly and tests and maybe part production in Ukraine."

More details: Johansson added that Saab is also looking to expand its production capacity in Brazil, and potentially in Canada and European countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson recently signed a letter of intent for Kyiv to acquire Gripen fighter jets, though funding arrangements have not yet been finalised.

The Swedish prime minister said the agreement does not imply immediate deliveries and is designed for the long term.

Johansson also stated that one option could be to use some of Russia's frozen assets, if officials manage to reach an agreement on them. So far, EU leaders have faced resistance from Belgium over access to these funds.

Quote: "What needs to come into place is this financing solution that's being discussed now at the political level: how much burden will Sweden take in terms of financing and risk, and how much can be shared without the countries, and how much can be used in terms of the Russian confiscated assets. That's still not 100 per cent clear."

Background: Ukraine is currently training pilots and technical teams and getting infrastructure ready to begin operating Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets as early as next year.

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