Sweden Confirms Delivery of ASC 890 Aircraft to Ukraine to Strengthen Early Warning and Air Defense Network.

According to information published on March 21, 2025, by the Delfi news website, the transfer of the Swedish ASC 890 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Ukraine is progressing as planned. This critical military assistance, first announced by the Swedish Ministry of Defense on May 29, 2024, marks a significant enhancement in Ukraine’s ability to monitor and control its airspace amid ongoing Russian  invasion.
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Swedish ASC 890 AEW&C aircraft equipped with Erieye radar, providing long-range air surveillance and command-and-control capabilities. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The ASC 890 is an airborne early warning and control system developed by the Swedish Company Saab, built on the Saab 340 twin-engine turboprop aircraft platform. It is equipped with the Erieye radar, a powerful active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar mounted on top of the fuselage. This radar can detect and track both aerial and maritime targets simultaneously at ranges of up to 400 kilometers, even in challenging conditions such as jamming environments or mountainous terrain. Its advanced sensors allow it to maintain constant surveillance across vast areas, offering commanders real-time situational awareness.

The primary mission of the ASC 890 is to serve as a command-and-control hub in the sky. It provides early warning of incoming threats such as aircraft, cruise missiles, or drones, and coordinates air defense responses by relaying information to fighter aircraft, ground-based air defense systems, and operational command centers. Additionally, it plays a critical role in airspace management, directing friendly aircraft during offensive and defensive operations, deconflicting movements, and supporting joint and combined arms coordination. In maritime settings, it can support naval task forces by tracking surface contacts and enhancing maritime domain awareness.

Sweden's decision to donate the ASC 890 aircraft demonstrates a deepening commitment to Ukraine's defense. The aircraft is expected to significantly enhance Ukraine's integrated air defense network by enabling better coordination between ground-based air defense systems, fighter aircraft, and command structures. As of March 2025, Ukrainian air force personnel are undergoing comprehensive training in Sweden to ensure operational readiness upon the aircraft’s arrival.

This strategic transfer comes in the context of Sweden’s broader military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Over the past three years, Sweden has delivered a series of increasingly sophisticated aid packages. These include armored fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery, air defense systems, ammunition, and most notably, main battle tanks and advanced surveillance capabilities. In total, Sweden has committed approximately SEK 61.9 billion (around EUR 5.4 billion) in military aid, positioning it among the top European contributors supporting Ukraine’s defense.

Key milestones in this assistance include the delivery of CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and Archer self-propelled howitzers, which have been deployed effectively in frontline operations. Additionally, Sweden has supplied RBS 70 and IRIS-T air defense systems, as well as Stridsvagn 122 tanks—a Swedish variant of the Leopard 2A5—further bolstering Ukraine’s ground forces and air defense layers.

The delivery of the ASC 890 aircraft represents a new dimension in Sweden’s support, providing Ukraine not just with firepower but with critical command-and-control capabilities that multiply the effectiveness of existing systems. This move also reflects Sweden’s growing alignment with NATO and its proactive role in supporting the security of Europe’s eastern flank.

In a time where Ukrainian airspace remains under constant threat from Russian missile strikes and drone incursions, the ASC 890's ability to provide real-time aerial surveillance and direct coordination among defensive units will be a game-changer. The on-schedule delivery highlights Sweden’s reliability as a defense partner and reaffirms the country's strategic intent to aid Ukraine not just in surviving, but in regaining operational superiority in its own territory.