What advantages does the use of Swedish ASC 890 AWACS aircraft provide to the Ukrainian Armed Forces?

6 September 2026 3 202 18

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced that two ASC 890 airborne early warning and control aircraft, also known as Saab 340 AEW&C, transferred from Sweden have already been conducting combat sorties since March 2026. Analysts from the Telegram channel "Military Chronicle" have pointed this out. They note that until recently, there was virtually no direct confirmation of their use from Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv has effectively confirmed for the first time that both aircraft are already in combat use. The ASC 890s are designed for long-range radar detection of air targets, air situational awareness, and air and air defense control, so their introduction significantly expands Ukraine's capabilities for early target detection and air operations coordination.

– experts explain.

They add that the ASC 890 is based on the small turboprop passenger Saab 340. The aircraft is approximately 20 meters long, has a wingspan of just over 21 meters, and has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 13 tons. They also emphasize that two General Electric CT7 engines allow the aircraft to remain airborne for over five hours and climb to approximately seven and a half kilometers.

Expanding on their theory, analysts point to the fact that the system's main element is located above the fuselage. This is the Erieye active phased array radar. Unlike traditional AWACS aircraft with a large rotating "mushroom," the ASC 890 has a long, fixed antenna that electronically scans the area to both sides of the aircraft.

In summary, they note that the detection range of large air targets can reach approximately 300–400 kilometers, although the actual value depends on the altitude and size of the target, the terrain, and the conditions of use.

Particularly valuable is the ability of such an aircraft to see low-flying objects much further than ground-based radars, which are hampered by the radio horizon.

– the Telegram channel concludes.

Information

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faiver

+2

6 September 2026 11: 19
Houston, you have a problem - the plane on the screensaver is not the one, this is the one
1. Gottfried
  
  +1
  
  6 September 2026 17: 29
  
  Indeed, that's a good point. When the newspaper article was written, they didn't realize that the turboprop had become a jet. This is a new generation of aircraft, which the Swedes would be foolish to abandon. The ones they handed over are 30-year-old aircraft, which the Swedes are now replacing.
lord-palladore-11045

0

6 September 2026 17: 49

What advantages does the use of Swedish ASC 890 AWACS aircraft provide to the Ukrainian Armed Forces?

- So we need to shoot down these ASC890s so they don't fly overhead, because it's been said that there shouldn't be any foreign troops on enemy territory, and there's nothing to be ashamed of!
1. Igor M.
  
  -5
  
  6 September 2026 18: 10
  
  lord-pallador-11045, the aircraft transferred to Ukraine becomes Ukrainian and ceases to be Swedish. Sweden, in this case, is merely the country of origin.
  Unfortunately, the plane is too far away for our air defense missiles. There's really no point in it for Ukraine right now. Well, it might detect our cruise missiles and jet-powered UAVs, but who's going to shoot them down, and with what? Ukraine has no air defense missiles; they're all gone.
  1. lord-palladore-11045
    
    0
    
    6 September 2026 18: 36
    
    lord-pallador-11045, the aircraft transferred to Ukraine becomes Ukrainian and ceases to be Swedish. Sweden, in this case, is merely the country of origin.
    Unfortunately, the plane is too far away for our air defense missiles. There's really no point in it for Ukraine right now. Well, it might detect our cruise missiles and jet-powered UAVs, but who's going to shoot them down, and with what? Ukraine doesn't have any air defense missiles; they're all gone.
    
    - especially since Ukraine doesn't have any air defense missiles, which means these Swedish troughs need to be shot down, at least with our Su-57s - the khokhlo-Shumers won't be able to shoot them down, and why shoot them down - read the article.
    1. Igor M.
      
      -5
      
      7 September 2026 02: 01
      
      lord-pallador-11045, yes. They keep a certain amount for just such an occasion.
      1. lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        7 September 2026 05: 31
        
        Igor M. - did someone report this to you? - reveal your sources - you look like such a know-it-all, given the total lack of enemy air defense.
        
        Igor M.
        
        -2
        
        8 September 2026 01: 58
        
        lord-pallador-11045, I follow several Telegram channels of war correspondents, the Ministry of Defense, and also read the Foreign Media collection.
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        -1
        
        8 September 2026 05: 48
        
        Igor M. - is everyone telling you the Ukrainian Armed Forces' military secrets? - or is the Russian General Staff sharing intelligence? - not convinced, Mr. Know-It-All!
        
        Igor M.
        
        -2
        
        9 September 2026 01: 39
        
        lord-pallador-11045, most secrets can be learned by analyzing public sources of information.
Igor M.

-6

6 September 2026 18: 07

the detection range of large air targets can reach approximately 300–400 kilometers

Well, that is, it's doomed to operate deep behind enemy lines, since its range is comparable to or shorter than the range of our air defense and air-to-air missiles. As soon as it gets close to the LBS, it will be immediately shot down.

The ability of such an aircraft to see low-flying objects is especially valuable.

To pack up in time? Ukraine has no way to shoot down our cruise missiles and jet-powered UAVs anyway – it has no air defense missiles.
1. Latus
  
  +1
  
  6 September 2026 20: 12
  
  There are plenty of short-range air defense systems and missiles for it, so they will be sent there.
  1. Igor M.
    
    -4
    
    7 September 2026 02: 24
    
    Latus, that's not quite it either. There are no missiles for European systems either.
    
    GoogleEuropean countries transferred missiles from their depots, expecting to produce new batches only between 2026 and 2029. Further transfer of missiles jeopardizes the defense capability of European states.
    
    Media: The expert noted that Ukraine may instead have to purchase Soviet-designed S-300 missiles from countries that still use the system.
    1. Latus
      
      0
      
      7 September 2026 02: 36
      
      They have a shortage of missiles for the Patriot system, which is capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.
      1. Igor M.
        
        -3
        
        7 September 2026 03: 32
        
        Latus, shortage of all types of air defense missiles.
        
        Google: Shortage of missiles for air defense systems (SAMP/T, IRIS-T, NASAMS, as well as Patriot) in Ukraine is caused by the high intensity of Russian shelling, the long production cycle of ammunition and the limited capabilities of the global defense industry.
        Western arsenals were not designed for such a high-intensity, attrition-based war, so missiles are being transferred to Ukraine faster than factories can replenish them.
        
        The Norwegian NASAMS complex uses American rockets.
        Aster interceptor missiles for the SAMP/T are assembled using complex technologies, not on an assembly line. Manufacturing a single batch takes months and even years.
        
        Media, 08.05.2926: Half-empty installations: Ignat announced a critical shortage of missiles for the IRIS-T
2. svoroponov
  
  -1
  
  11 September 2026 12: 23
  
  One of the two aircraft transferred to Ukraine by Sweden has already been destroyed, along with its crew and operators (characteristically, the Swedes worked with the Ukrainians there, training them). It's just not yet clear whether ours took it out with a long-range air-to-air missile, or whether the Ukrainians took it out themselves with friendly fire.
BURATELLO

0

7 September 2026 05: 29

they must be destroyed.
medium roast

0

8 September 2026 00: 18

probably not much past some dried INK.. the pilots probably think twice and then think again.. that thing called suko 57 or Sukol Felon.

well U can see it - then its probably a case for a good will N testemant ??