Expert Mikhailov: ASC 890 will not last long in the airspace of Ukraine
Two ASC 890 long-range radar detection (AWACS) aircraft, which Sweden will transfer to Ukraine, will not last long in the airspace. Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Bureau of Military and Political Analysis, shared this opinion with Izvestia on June 3.
On May 29, the Swedish government announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 13.3 billion Swedish kronor (more than $ 1.2 billion). This package will include two ASC 890 AWACS aircraft.
"Aircraft that provide long-range radar surveillance, that is, provide airspace control, monitor aircraft takeoff, missile launches, in general, everything that moves in the airspace in their field of view. They transmit this data to the Ukrainian side, transmit possible coordinates for various weapons. Of course, these are the products that strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces in many ways. But we must understand that these are turboprop aircraft, they are designed for a small combat range compared to ours, for example, the A-50, which has much greater technical characteristics, both aviation and radar," Mikhailov said.
The expert pointed out that if ASC 890s enter the airspace of Ukraine, they will become a target for Russia.
"They will also become targets for our aviation, for our air defense systems. If they enter the target area of the S-400 systems, and I think it will happen someday, they will simply be hit by long-range anti-aircraft missiles. Of course, they will be able to mess with us for a while, but I think they will not last long in the airspace," he said.
According to the interlocutor of the publication, Sweden, which recently joined NATO, is required to "make all possible efforts to arm Ukraine." At the same time, Stockholm did not transfer its combat fighters to Kiev, as it knows that a "sad fate" awaits them in Ukraine.
"It's just that Sweden recently joined NATO, it is required to make some feasible efforts to arm Ukraine. She is still on fresh enthusiasm, just joining the alliance, uncovering her arsenals. But I think this process is already gradually coming to naught, because this assistance is hitting the military component of Sweden itself. They don't give combat fighters. This was in some way the answer to the question that hung in the air from Kiev - "and give me your fighters." Sweden produces its own line of military aircraft, including the Griffin type fighter, which is a 4++ generation fighter, good, high—quality, very expensive - each aircraft costs about € 100 million. Moreover, the Swedes are well aware that the fate of these aircraft will be the same as that of the Soviet ones in service with the Ukrainian Air Force," he concluded.
This package will be the 16th from Stockholm. In addition, on May 26, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonson approved Kiev's strikes on the territories of the Russian Federation with Western weapons.
On May 14, Jonson said that Sweden does not plan to send its soldiers to Ukraine, but may consider such an option if it is offered by NATO allies.
Western countries have increased military and financial support for Kiev against the background of the Russian special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
