More and more people are talking about a Ukrainian spring offensive in the war, but in order to recapture the eastern parts of the country, some believe that an advantage in the air is needed.
Former air force chief Mats Helgesson believes that Ukraine can use fighter jets to push Russia back by attacking bases and airfields inside Russia.
Only then will Ukraine gain air superiority, which will allow the country’s army to take back the areas invaded in the east.
But such airstrikes would be seen by Russia as an escalation – and much is at stake.
Swedish Jas Gripen to Ukraine?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks for flights from the West, and Poland and Slovakia together send about twenty Mig-29s, a model developed in the Soviet Union.
When Sweden built Jas, the successor to the Viggen, it was precisely with a view to being able to defend itself against Soviet weapons systems.
But when Ukraine wants the Jas 39 Gripen, the government says no. Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) justifies this by saying that Russia still has most of its air force, and that Jas is needed to defend Sweden.
Cast:
Mats Helgesson, retired Major General and former Air Force Chief
Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou, docent in military science at the Norwegian Defense Academy
Hugo von Essen, analyst at the Center for East European Studies
Program manager: Bo Torbjörn Ek and Sarah Sundberg
Producer: Karin Hållsten
Technician: Mats Jonsson
Audio from: Swedish Radio, C-SPAN, CNN, Sky News, Reuters, Youtube
Source: ICELAND NEWS