Can these new abilities put an end to the Russian bombardments?

The delivery of Swedish Saab 340/ASC890 long-range radar detection and control planes to Ukraine, as mentioned last May, remains scheduled. According to statements from the Swedish Defense Ministry shared with the Lithuanian news outlet Delfi, this timeline hinges on certain adjustments being made to the F-16s.

"The delivery timeline for ASC890 coincides with the readiness of specific upgrades to the F-16 fighter jets," the statement read. "Although we are adhering to the initial schedule, due to security concerns, we won’t disclose details regarding the timings and locations of particular operations, past or future," the Defense Ministry further explained.

The Swedish Ministry of Defense stated that Sweden is assisting in the training of Ukrainian individuals to serve as pilots, maintain aircraft, and operate onboard systems.

Detecting Russian bombers

The Saab 340/ASC890 AEW&C, commonly referred to as the S100B Argus, is equipped with the PS-890 "Erieye" radar system capable of monitoring high and mid-level Russian airspace up to an effective range of approximately 200–250 kilometers (125–156 miles).

Deployed in the rear regions of Ukraine, this radar system enables the identification of Russian Su-35S and Su-30SM1 fighters along with Su-34N bomber jets as they get ready to fire missiles or precision-guided bombs at Ukrainian locations, even when these aircraft are operating at their farthest operational ranges from the frontline or the Russo-Ukrainian border.

(ML. Source: Kyiv Post/Delfi. Image: Gnolam/Creative Commons 3.0)