Sweden Donates Radar Aircraft to Boost Ukraine's Defences

Sweden will donate two radar surveillance and command aircraft to Ukraine, enhancing its air defence against Russia. The Saab ASC 890 aircraft will assist with the integration of F-16 fighter jets, contributing to a larger aid package worth 13.3 billion Swedish crowns ($1.3 billion).

Sweden will donate two radar surveillance and command aircraft to Ukraine to boost its defences in the war with Russia, the Swedish government said on Wednesday, as part of its largest aid package to Ukraine so far worth about 13.3 billion Swedish crowns ($1.3 billion).

The Saab Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASC) 890 aircraft allows easier long-range target identification and will help Ukraine with the planned introduction of F-16 fighter jets donated by other Western countries, Sweden said. "They will complement and reinforce the F-16 systems," Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a press briefing in Stockholm.

Ukraine's air force, which relies on a relatively small fleet of old, Soviet-era jets, wants F-16s to help enhance its air defences amid regular Russian air strikes and to push back against advanced Russian fighter jets. Earlier this week, Ukraine's defence minister said he hoped the first F-16 fighter jets would

be delivered to Ukraine "very soon".

The Swedish government said last week it planned to give military support to Ukraine totalling 75 billion Swedish crowns ($7.1 billion) over three years. Sweden will now speed up orders for S 106 Global Eye aircraft to replace the donated planes, Jonson said.

($1 = 10.5752 Swedish crowns)