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View from above: what will Swedish AWACS planes give Kiev?

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Image source: Фото: flickr.com/Andreas

The Kingdom announced the transfer of two long-range radar detection and control systems to Ukraine

This week, the Swedish government announced the allocation of a new package of military assistance to Ukraine. The structure, among other things, includes two long-range radar detection and control aircraft (AWACS and U). Delivery dates are not specified. Izvestia investigated how much the transfer of such aircraft can increase the effectiveness of the Ukrainian forces and whether this danger is so serious.

Swedish AWACS aircraft

The AWACS and U aircraft carries a radar for detecting air, land or sea targets, and with the help of communication and interfacing equipment issues target designations for the air defense system. There are only a few countries in the world that produce such machines. In the 1990s, Sweden produced six such Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft with the Ericsson FSR 890 Erieye radar system, which received the military designation S-100B Argus.

Currently, two aircraft each serve in the Thai and Polish Air Forces. Three more modern ones have been supplied to the UAE Air Force, they are already built on the basis of Bombardier aircraft, and a new generation Saab Erieye ER radar is installed on them. The two remaining aircraft were upgraded to NATO standards, receiving Link 11 and Link 16 data transmission equipment with secure voice radio and state recognition equipment, although the radar itself remained unchanged. Accordingly, the designation of their radar complex was changed to ASR 890, and the designation of the aircraft was changed to S—100D. The radar installed on it can observe targets at a distance of 350-450 km. The aircraft itself can stay in the air for up to five hours, has a speed of about 500 km / h, and a maximum flight range of about fifteen hundred km, which is slightly more than the maximum length of the territory of Ukraine.

Saab S100D

Image Source: Photo: flickr.com/Kjell Nilsson

So they will be transferred to Ukraine. The reasons that pushed the Swedes to such an act, frankly speaking, are not clear. Sincere concern for the defense of another country? It's kind of weird. Most likely, we are talking about the fact that the Swedish Air Force, due to existing personnel and technical problems, is simply unable to operate these aircraft, and they are idle on the ground. On the other hand, the state order for weapons is the dream of any capitalist. Moreover, the press release explicitly says: "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." Saab needs to be supported, money is more important. In addition, the delivery of this equipment to Ukraine is an excellent opportunity to upgrade the fleet of this type of aircraft.

What will this give Ukraine?

Coupled with the delivery of the long-promised F-16 fighters, this, of course, will allow the Ukrainian Air Force to be re-equipped. It remains to get these fighters in significant quantities. At the same time, find out if the Saab S-100D, not the newest aircraft with not the newest electronics on board, can interact with them in reality. The Ukrainian Air Force itself is a Soviet aircraft produced in the late 1980s. Of course, something has been upgraded or repaired, but time is time, and losses are losses. That's why Ukrainians are running around shouting "give me planes." There are practically no more of their own, and there have never been AWACS aircraft in Ukraine.

SAAB S100D

Image Source: Photo: flickr.com/Andreas

If retraining Ukrainian pilots on the Saab 340 (two people crew) does not pose any special problems, then the operators of the radar complex (four of them) will have to be trained from scratch — it is no longer so easy, as well as training technicians to operate such equipment. Spare parts for such rare equipment, both for the aircraft and for the radar, are also a problem. Earlier, the issue of training Ukrainian operators and crews for AWACS aircraft in Sweden was not discussed in the media. Most likely, such retraining on the Saab S-100D was disguised under the guise of training pilots for Swedish JAS 39 aircraft, which Sweden also expressed a desire to supply. But, again, the issue of integrating this Swedish radar equipment with Ukraine's armed systems remains in force. It can also be assumed that these vehicles will not be based in Ukraine, but will be used from the territory of adjacent NATO countries (Poland or Romania).

Possible use of AWACS aircraft

Currently, the main danger for Ukraine is posed by Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft dropping gliding bombs. The Russian bombers themselves operate outside the zone of Ukrainian air defense systems. In the case of the use of an AWACS aircraft, the enemy's radar field will significantly increase and it will be possible to detect our aircraft in advance. Early detection of targets provides additional opportunities both in terms of defense and in ways of countering, including allowing the use of tactical schemes using ambush air defenses.

SAAB S100D

Image Source: Photo: flickr.com/Andreas

Another way of application may be the use of the Saab S-100D in a massive attack by drones and unmanned boats off the coast of the Russian Crimea. The aircraft will be able to coordinate their actions and missile launches from the remaining Ukrainian Air Force aircraft in service. Another way could be to use such an aircraft to repel Russian massive attacks with missiles and "Geraniums" on targets in Ukraine. In this case, he will be able to determine the possible arrival locations of our ammunition and coordinate the work of air defense systems.

By and large, this is an extremely dubious acquisition for the Ukrainian Air Force. Sweden could give Ukraine something more useful at this stage. Most likely, the government of the "three crowns" is solving the problems of its military industry and getting rid, albeit with pomp, of not the most modern aviation equipment. As, however, from many other outdated junk (such as the Pbv 302 APC) in this package of military assistance. It is noteworthy that in the Ukrainian TG segment, there are no special joys about receiving AWACS and U aircraft.



Dmitry Boltenkov

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Comments [1]
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03.06.2024 11:11
Ой зря они это сделали!
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