Summary
- Sweden to supply Ukraine with an ASC 890 AWACS aircraft for collective air defense.
- The aircraft will improve the effectiveness of Ukraine’s F-16s against targets at long range.
- The package includes AWACS training, equipment, a fleet of armored vehicles, missiles, and more.
In a surprise move, Sweden announced it would donate a rare and expensive ASC 890 Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft (Saab 340 AEW&C or AWACS) to Ukraine as part of its largest-ever aid package totaling SEK 13.3 billion or $1.3 USD. The package also includes many missiles, armored vehicles, and other equipment to help Ukraine defend itself. This announcement comes on the heels of Belgium announcing it would donate 30 retiring F-16s to Ukraine.
AWACS spy planes (like the ASC 890 Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft) are crucial enablers in helping air forces paint an accurate battlefield picture. They are the eyes in the sky that see far beyond visual range and play an important role in the effectiveness of fighter jets.
Sweden to supply AWACS aircraft
Sweden is to supply a Saab 340 AEW&C (designated S 100B Argus by the Swedish Air Force) to Ukraine. The airborne and early warning and control aircraft is a variant of the Saab 340 and is equipped with the Erieye active electronically scanned array. Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft are also operated by Poland and Thailand.
The Swedish government released a statement saying, “Today, 29 May, the Government is presenting its 16th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Sweden will provide Ukraine with a completely new capability to strengthen its collective air defence.”
The supply of AWACS aircraft to Ukraine is unprecedented. If used effectively, it should function as a significant force multiplier for the F-16 Fighting Falcons, which Ukraine will soon receive. Denmark is expected to start delivering the first of approximately 85 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine sometime this summer (the full number will be delivered by 2028).
“Today, I am glad to express my profound gratitude to Prime Minister Kristersson, his government, and all Swedes for Sweden’s largest military aid package announced thus far, totaling nearly €1.2 billion.” Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky
Losing even one AWACS aircraft can be very painful for any air force. Sweden acknowledged that the donation would “temporary decrease Sweden’s defense capability” but this would be addressed by procuring additional S 106 GlobalEye aircraft and by advancing previous orders for two new GlobalEye aircraft.
According to Planespotters.net, Sweden only has two S100D / ASC890 AWACS in service. One was built in 1996 and is now 28 years old; the other was built in 1997, making it 27.5 years old. It is unclear which of the two aircraft will be donated.
Other package provisions include AMRAAM missiles for the F-16s, Sweden’s entire fleet of Pansarbandvagn 302 armored tracked personnel carriers, surplus tank vehicles, 155mm artillery shells, financial support, and more.
In 2024, Turkey and Hungary finally approved Sweden’s NATO accession, making it the newest NATO member and bringing the alliance to 32 members. For Sweden, the Russian invasion of Ukraine (which was not part of any alliance) was a watershed moment that compelled the Nordic country to abandon around 250 years of neutrality (Sweden remained neutral in WWI and WWII).
Related
F-16s Are About To Arrive In Ukraine. What Is Their Combat Record?
While the F-16 has a stellar combat record, they are getting old and will be up against the latest Russian fighter jets and air defense.
An all-new capability for Ukraine
The ASC 890 AWACS aircraft will supply Ukraine with a new ability against airborne and maritime targets. It will enable Ukraine to identify and engage targets at long range and improve the effectiveness of the F-16s. The ASC 890 is somewhat comparable to Russia’s large A-50U Beriev AWACS aircraft (just newer and smaller). Sweden states the package will also include “training, technical equipment, and methodological support for air surveillance and command and control.”
The announcement also came after Sweden announced it was pausing plans to deliver its domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine after Belgium announced it would donate 30 F-16s. The official reason was that it would be too difficult to introduce two Western fighter jets simultaneously, enabling efforts to focus on the F-16s. According to The Defense Post, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said, “The other countries in the Air Force coalition have asked us to wait before donating the Gripen system.”
Photo: Mike Mareen l Shutterstock
The F-16 Fighting Falcon enjoys a very impressive combat history. However, it is important not to focus on the aircraft itself to the exclusion of the larger system it is part of. The jet’s effectiveness is influenced by other factors like pilot training, the missiles it carries, and other platforms (like AWACS) feeding it information.
Related
How Are Sanctions Hamstringing The Production Of Russia’s Domestic Airliners?
Domestic Russian commercial jets are being delayed as they are re-designed with Russian-built parts.
Russian & NATO AWACS in the war
AWACS aircraft are a powerful tool on the battlefield, and they are typically rare and expensive. Out of an estimated fleet of nine upgraded A-50U (NATO reporting name MAINSTAY) aircraft at the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has lost two A-50U Berievs completely destroyed (plus a couple of Ilyushin 22Ms). Another A-50U was damaged by Belarusian partisans, while more may have been damaged or destroyed by Ukrainian drone attacks on the aircraft’s repair base at the Taganrog Beriev Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex. Satellite photos show damage to the hangar but do not show what was inside the hangar.
Photo: JetKat l Shutterstock
In 2022, a rogue Russian pilot fired two missiles at a British AWACS aircraft patrolling in international waters over the Black Sea. Fortunately, one missile malfunctioned, and the other failed to hit its target. Thus, by extreme luck, a deadly shooting incident between Russia and NATO was narrowly avoided. Separately, Russian jets forced an unmanned American MQ-9 Reaper drone to crash over the Black Sea while it was on patrol.