Analysis: Discover how Sweden's ASC 890 early warning aircraft helps Ukraine to protect its skies from Russian attacks.

On August 24, 2025, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal publicly thanked the Swedish government for transferring an ASC 890 radar reconnaissance and control aircraft to Ukraine. His statement followed the visit of Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson to Kyiv the previous day, during which the two governments signed a letter of intent that focused on the joint production of defense equipment in both Sweden and Ukraine. The letter also established a framework for the exchange of technologies, pilot training, and cooperative projects between Swedish and Ukrainian defense companies. Shmyhal underlined that cooperation in military aviation was a key element of the agreement and described the ASC 890 transfer as a central part of strengthening Ukraine’s ability to monitor and control its airspace. He also noted Sweden’s participation in the PURL initiative with Norway and Denmark, which allocated $486 million in funding.
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By detecting threats at long range and transmitting real-time targeting data via NATO-standard Link 16 datalinks, the ASC 890 enables Ukraine to coordinate its response to Russian attacks with both F-16 fighter jets and ground-based air defense systems. (Picture source: NATO Air Command)

The ASC 890 transfer is part of Sweden’s sixteenth and largest support package to Ukraine, announced on May 29, 2024. Valued at approximately $1.25 billion, this package was focused on collective air defense and included the airborne early warning aircraft, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles that can be used by both NASAMS and Western-donated F-16 fighters, the entire stock of Swedish Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers, 155 mm artillery ammunition, and support for previously transferred equipment. Swedish officials emphasized that the ASC 890 donation would provide Ukraine with a new capability to detect and engage aerial and maritime targets at long range, supported by training, equipment, and methods for air surveillance and command-and-control. Although Shmyhal confirmed the transfer, Swedish statements at the time of Jonson’s visit did not explicitly mention it, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense press service told RBC-Ukraine that it could not yet confirm the physical delivery. By March 2025, the Swedish Ministry of Defense stated that the transfer remained on schedule and linked it to the integration of F-16s, though detailed timing was not released at that time.

The ASC 890, also known as the Saab 340 AEW&C or S 100B Argus, is based on the Saab 340 twin-engine turboprop regional airliner, adapted by Saab AB as an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform. The airframe measures 20.57 meters in length, has a wingspan of 21.44 meters, and stands 6.97 meters in height. It is powered by two General Electric CT7-9B engines producing 1,870 horsepower each, providing an endurance of more than five hours and a maximum operating altitude of about 7,620 meters. These performance characteristics make it suitable for regional surveillance missions at moderate cost compared to larger jet-powered AWACS platforms. The Saab 340 family was originally developed in cooperation with Fairchild Aircraft in the early 1980s and produced between 1983 and 1999, with more than 450 units built in civilian and military configurations.

The defining feature of the ASC 890 is the Erieye radar system, officially designated PS-890, which is mounted in a long “balance beam” fairing above the fuselage. It uses active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, electronically steering its beam to cover a broadside sector of about 120 degrees to each side of the aircraft. The system can track targets at distances of up to 350–400 kilometers under favorable conditions, with the ability to detect fighter-sized aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and maritime targets. Unlike traditional dome-mounted AWACS radars such as those on the U.S. E-3 Sentry, the Erieye’s fixed array reduces drag and weight but leaves gaps in coverage directly ahead and behind the aircraft. The radar’s electronically steered beam allows variable scan speeds and update rates, enabling operators to prioritize high-threat sectors while maintaining wide-area coverage.

Operationally, the ASC 890 serves not only as a surveillance platform but also as an airborne command-and-control center. The Swedish Air Force originally fielded six Saab 340 AEW aircraft in the 1990s, with four fitted permanently with Erieye radar and two configured for transport. In the 2000s, two airframes were upgraded to ASC 890 standard, with onboard operator consoles, Link 16 datalinks, NATO-compatible communications, secure voice, and modernized software. These aircraft became operational in 2010 and have been used for surveillance missions over the Baltic Sea. By providing real-time tracking and identification of aerial and surface contacts, the ASC 890 can coordinate air defense responses by assigning interceptors, directing ground-based missile systems, and supporting joint operations. The Erieye system is interoperable with NATO air defense networks and has been exported on multiple platforms, including the Saab 2000 and Embraer ERJ-145.

At the heart of the ASC 890 is the Ericson PS-890 Erieye radar, an active electronically scanned array mounted in a fixed, longitudinal “balance-beam” fairing along the upper fuselage, which can track targets at distances of up to 350–400 kilometers. (Picture source: NATO Air Command)

For Ukraine, the ASC 890’s ability to look down from altitude provides a significant improvement over ground-based radars, particularly against low-flying cruise missiles and drones that are often masked by terrain. The radar’s maritime surveillance mode also extends coverage over the Black Sea, an area of continued contestation between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Reports indicate that the system can track hundreds of targets simultaneously, offering commanders an enhanced picture of the battlespace. Later versions of Erieye include synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indication (GMTI) capabilities for detailed ground surveillance, although it is not confirmed whether the Ukrainian aircraft will include these options. Even without them, the platform provides Ukraine with the capacity to monitor both air and sea approaches in real time, supporting both defensive and offensive operations.

The integration of ASC 890 with Ukraine’s F-16 fighters and ground-based air defenses is central to its strategic value. Sweden linked the transfer schedule to modifications ensuring interoperability with F-16 systems, while also providing AMRAAM missiles to equip both the fighters and NASAMS batteries. The NATO-standard Link 16 datalink enables the aircraft to share air pictures and targeting data directly with Western platforms, making it a node in a modern integrated air defense system. This will allow Ukraine to employ the aircraft as a fighter control asset, detecting and prioritizing targets, assigning them to F-16s, and passing data to surface-to-air missile units. In a contested environment, this level of integration improves coordination and maximizes the limited number of interceptors available to Ukraine.

The sustainability of this capability depends on force structure and protection measures. Sweden operates only two ASC 890 aircraft, and reports suggest that both could be transferred to Ukraine, though official confirmation of the number has not been given. Poland’s 2023 purchase of two second-hand Saab 340 AEW aircraft for approximately €52 million provides a benchmark for the financial scale of such programs, highlighting the costs of airframes, radar systems, ground equipment, and support. For Ukraine, pilot, crew, and maintainer training in Sweden is already underway to ensure readiness. Protecting the aircraft will be a critical concern, as AEW platforms are high-value targets for Russian long-range missiles and air-to-air interceptors. Ukrainian planners may base them in the western part of the country and adopt Swedish practices of keeping one aircraft on ground alert, able to launch within thirty minutes, to mitigate vulnerability.

The strategic implications of the ASC 890 transfer extend beyond the aircraft itself. Sweden is accelerating the induction of its GlobalEye fleet, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 with the Erieye ER radar, to fill the gap left by donating the older platforms. For Ukraine, receiving the ASC 890, which has an estimated value of up to $30 million, provides a transformational capability that multiplies the effectiveness of other Western systems already delivered. NATO has conducted AEW flights outside Ukraine’s borders since before the invasion, but line-of-sight and range limitations constrained those missions. By pushing this capability into Ukrainian airspace, Sweden has enabled Ukraine to build a more integrated and autonomous air defense structure.