Sweden to Provide Ukraine with Its Largest Military Aid Package Worth Over €1.1 Billion
The Swedish government has announced the allocation of its 16th military aid package to Ukraine. This package, amounting to 13.3 billion Swedish kronor (€1.16 billion), is the largest single aid contribution Sweden has made to Ukraine and includes, among other things, ASC 890 airborne early warning and control aircraft. This was stated in a release by the Swedish government.
The ASC 890 aircraft are designed for airborne reconnaissance and for managing air defence systems and aviation operations against enemy air and maritime targets. The ASC 890 can detect objects within a 400-kilometre radius and can operate continuously for up to 5 hours.
Sweden is also transferring its entire stock of Pansarbandvagn 302 (Pbv 302) tracked armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine, which will be used to form new brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Additionally, the new military aid package includes 155mm artillery ammunition and other resources for maintaining previously transferred Swedish equipment.
To further strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities, the support package includes Rb 99 air-to-air missiles — licensed versions of the American AIM-120B missile with a launch range of up to 70 kilometres, which were previously assembled in Sweden and used on the multirole fighters JAS 39 Gripen. These missiles can be used on both aircraft and ground-based air defence systems.
The allocated funds will also support various coalitions that back Ukraine, in which Sweden participates. Moreover, the package includes enhancing Ukraine's command and control capabilities by providing terminals with satellite communication subscriptions. It is worth noting that since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Sweden has provided Ukraine with military support worth 43.5 billion kronor (€3.77 billion).
The publication The Gaze also reported that Sweden has allocated a new aid package worth 650 million Swedish kronor (€56.5 million) to increase Ukraine's electricity production and transmission capacities.