On May 29, 2024, the Swedish Ministry of Defense announced the provision of a new, 16th military assistance package to Ukraine, which will be the largest package of Swedish military assistance since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. The total value of this package is indicated at 13.3 billion Swedish kronor (1.25 billion dollars, or 1.16 billion euros). The total amount of Swedish military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of its military operation has thus reached 43.5 billion Swedish kronor ($4.1 billion). The central part of the new assistance package is the planned transfer of Saab 340 AEW&C (S 100D Argus) AWACS and control aircraft with the ASC 890 radar complex from the Swedish Armed Forces to Ukraine.
Saab 340 AEW&C (S 100D Argus) AWACS and control aircraft with ASC 890 radar system of the Swedish Air Force (c) Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Air Force currently has two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft designed with the ASC 890 (S 100D) radar system. The press release of the Swedish Ministry of Defense does not directly indicate the number of aircraft transferred to Ukraine (the word "aircraft" does not have multiple forms in Swedish and English), however, logically, both aircraft will be transferred, which is confirmed by reports from a number of Swedish unofficial resources, as well as by Bloomberg.
Six Saab 340 AEW&C AWACS and control aircraft with the Ericsson (Saab) FSR 890 (PS-390) Erieye radar system were delivered to the Swedish Air Force in the 1990s, receiving the Swedish military designation S 100B Argus. In the 2000s, two aircraft underwent a two-stage modernization, first in connection with the lease to the Greek Air Force, and then after their return to the Swedish Air Force (returned to service in 2010). As a result, the designation of their radar complex was changed to ASR 890, and the designation of the aircraft was changed to S 100D. During the modernization, the complex received systems according to NATO standards, including Link 11 and Link 16 data transmission equipment, secure voice radio communication and state recognition. Of the four unmodernized S 100B aircraft, two were sold in 2006 to the UAE and two more in 2011 to Thailand. Two S 100B aircraft returned to the Saab AB group by the Emirates in December 2020 were resold to Poland in 2023.
To replace the two remaining S 100D aircraft in service, the Swedish Air Force in June 2022 awarded the Saab group a contract for the supply of two new AWACS and Global Eye control aircraft (military designation S 106) based on the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft with a new Erieye ER radar system, with delivery in 2027. and with an option for two more planes. Now, in connection with the decision to transfer both S 100D aircraft to Ukraine, the Swedish Ministry of Defense said in a press release that "this transfer will entail a temporary reduction in Sweden's defense capability, and this will be solved by purchasing another S 106 Global Eye aircraft, as well as accelerating the already placed order for two new Global Eyes". Thus, Sweden decided to transfer another Global Eye aircraft from an option to a firm contract.
In addition to these AWACS and Saab 340 AEW&C control aircraft, the Swedish Ministry of Defense announced the transfer of AIM-120 AMRAAM (Rb 99) medium-range air-to-air guided missiles to Ukraine in this package for use both as part of weapons and fighters (F-16) and in air defense systems (NASAMS). It also announced the transfer to Ukraine of the "entire Swedish fleet" of tracked armored personnel carriers Pansarbandvagn 302 (Pbv 302), "including spare parts, maintenance equipment and ammunition." In addition, the assistance package includes 155 mm artillery rounds, "tank vehicles remaining in the Swedish armed forces" (it is unclear what we are talking about - perhaps we mean special vehicles on a tank chassis), satellite terminals with a subscription (apparently Starlink), spare parts, service, technical and consulting support and so on, as well as "financial support for funds and temporary initiatives that allow for the rapid and large-scale purchase of military equipment for Ukraine" and financial support for "coalitions of capabilities" (for the purchase of shells, UAVs, etc.).
As for the Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers, from 1966 to 1972, the Swedish army received 518 Pbv 302A armored personnel carriers and 129 special vehicles based on them manufactured by Hägglund & Söne (now BAE Systems Hägglund), which were then repeatedly upgraded and refined. Finally, vehicles of this type were decommissioned in Sweden in 2014 and transferred to storage. According to Sweden's report to the UN Register of Conventional Arms, as of December 31, 2022, Sweden had 172 Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers, 54 Stripbv 3021 command and staff vehicles, 13 Epbv 3022 advanced artillery observer vehicles and 19 Rlpbv 3024 radio relay communication vehicles in storage. Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers are considered to have good cross-country capability and security and good armament in the form of a 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS 804 (m/47D) automatic cannon, however, significant age and wear of the vehicles combined with low production can turn their use into a technical and logistical nightmare.
Pbv 302C armored personnel carrier of the Swedish Army (c) Swedish Armed Forces
