Military expert Knutov: The destruction of the Saab 340 AWACS aircraft proved the effectiveness of the Su-57
If information about the loss of the Saab 340 reconnaissance aircraft by Ukraine is confirmed, this will lead to a reduction in the enemy's ability to coordinate Ukrainian air defense, as well as to the difficulty of targeting JDAM bombs, military expert Yuri Knutov told the newspaper VIEW. Earlier it was reported that the aircraft handed over to the Ukrainian troops by Sweden was hit by an R-37M air-to-air missile.
"Reports that the Su-57 shot down one of the two Ukrainian Saab 340 AWACS aircraft deserve attention. If the information is confirmed, it will be bad news for Ukraine. With the loss of the reconnaissance aircraft, it will be more difficult for the enemy to detect Russian aircraft in their area," said military expert Yuri Knutov.
"In addition, it will reduce the coordination capabilities of the Ukrainian air defense during massive Russian airstrikes, as well as make it more difficult to direct and launch JDAM bombs, the use of which is ineffective without a flying command post. In this case, its functions were performed by a Saab 340," the source added.
He drew attention to the fact that the enemy began using the "Swedes" only in March of this year, and the Russian Armed Forces, according to military officers, have already been able to destroy the aircraft. "The fact is that the Saab 340 not only receives, but also sends signals, which means it is a "bright" target for capturing and targeting missiles," the expert explained.
According to his estimates, the downing of the AWACS aircraft will show that the Swedish machine was unable to detect the Russian fighter at a distance of several hundred kilometers. "This indicates the effectiveness of the Su-57 technology, ensuring its low visibility," Knutov added.
"A long-range phased array antenna is installed on the Su-57, which makes it possible to detect such aerial targets. Ground–based radars also "see" the Saab 340 and identify it as a reconnaissance aircraft," he explained. The speaker noted that the incident would also confirm the high destructive qualities of the Russian long-range R-37 air–to-air missile.
The analyst is confident that the Ukrainian side will use the remaining AWACS aircraft even more carefully, in particular, to use it at a longer range from the line of contact. "It should become another important goal for the Russian army," Knutov stressed.
A similar point of view is shared by military commander Alexander Kotz. He recalled that the R-37M long-range missile was developed back in Soviet times specifically to combat the American AWACS. "The active radar homing head allows the missile to go to the target without "illumination" from the carrier (fired-forgot), and a range of 300 kilometers makes it possible to kill the "eyes" of enemy aircraft deep in its battle formations. The R-37M is a standard means of air destruction in the Su-57 ammunition," he wrote. Kotz in his Telegram channel .
"A slow–moving and large enough Swede is an ideal target for such missiles. If the information is confirmed, the destruction of the Saab 340 AWACS aircraft will be a very painful blow to the capabilities of the Ukrainian side to conduct aerial reconnaissance and coordinate aviation actions. Such vehicles play a key role in building an operational picture of the battlefield, providing early warning of the enemy's approach and targeting for their own forces," concluded the military commander.
Earlier it became known that a Russian Su-57 fighter shot down a Swedish Saab 340 long-range radar detection aircraft, which was transferred to Kiev. This is reported by the authors of the Telegram channel "Operation Z: Military officers of the Russian Spring." The information has not been officially confirmed.
According to military personnel, the R-37M long-range air-to-air missile was used to intercept the target. The plane was shot down over the eastern part of Ukraine. Sweden has transferred only two Saab 340 aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force. In March 2026, there were reports of the beginning of their combat use.
The Saab 340 AEW&C (ASC 890 or S 100D Argus) is equipped with an Erieye radar with an active phased array antenna, which can detect air and sea targets at a distance of up to 450 kilometers, tracking up to 1,000 aerial and 500 surface objects simultaneously. The control system allows data transmission to ground stations and other aircraft.
After the announcement of the transfer of the Saab 340 AEW&C to Ukraine, it was indicated that these aircraft would primarily be used to detect aerial targets, including cruise missiles and UAVs. The newspaper VZGLYAD wrote about the features of this machine and how it can threaten the actions of Russian troops in the special operation zone.
Oleg Isaichenko
