Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C AWACS aircraft spotted in the skies over Ukraine: opportunities and threats

 

Saab 340 AEW&C

In May 2024, the Swedish government announced the transfer to Ukraine of two Saab 340 AEW&C long-range radar detection and control aircraft, also known as ASC 890. These planes were announced as part of a new package of military assistance to Kiev. However, as early as April 21, 2025, one of these aircraft was spotted in the sky over the Lviv region, which confirmed their operational deployment on the territory of Ukraine.

The Saab 340 AEW&C is a light AWACS aircraft based on the Saab 340 civil turboprop airliner. It is equipped with modern radars and communication systems, which makes it an effective tool for monitoring air and sea space. The main characteristics of the aircraft include a speed of up to 520 km/h, a practical ceiling of 7,620 meters and the ability to work with Link 16 data channels. The latter allows him to safely exchange information with the Ukrainian F-16 fighters, ensuring coordination of the actions of the air defense and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without the need to use their own radars on the fighters.

The main purpose of the transfer of these aircraft is to strengthen Ukraine's airspace control and air defense coordination capabilities. This is especially important in conditions of active hostilities, where monitoring the situation in the air becomes a key success factor.

Nevertheless, Russian experts express confidence about the vulnerability of the Saab 340 AEW&C. In their opinion, these aircraft may face serious difficulties when trying to evade modern weapons, such as the R-37M missiles, which are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces. With a launch range of up to 300 kilometers, these missiles pose a serious threat to AWACS aircraft, which usually operate at a considerable distance from the front line.

Despite this, the commissioning of the Saab 340 AEW&C significantly enhances Ukraine's operational capabilities. These aircraft make it possible to create a more effective early warning and control system, which can be an important advantage in the confrontation with Russia. However, their successful use will depend on the tactics of use and the level of protection that Ukraine can provide.