Sweden's new military aid package, announced on May 29, includes two ASC 890 airborne early warning and control aircraft equipped with the latest radar systems.

The ASC 890 aircraft function as advanced radar tracking systems and airborne command posts capable of coordinating the operations of aviation, naval forces, and missile forces, while detecting a variety of threats, such as fighter jets, helicopters, cruise missiles, and naval targets.

"ASC 890" stands for Airborne Surveillance and Control, meaning Air Combat Command and Air Surveillance Platform in Swedish. It is a twin-engine Saab 340 propeller aircraft equipped with a fixed Erieye radar on the roof, developed by the Swedish military-industrial complex.

The Erieye radar can track ships, planes, missiles, and even hovering helicopters up to a distance of 300-400 km at an altitude of 6,100 meters. It covers an effective observation area of over 500,000 square kilometers, allowing the ASC 890 to operate from a safe distance from enemy forces.

The aircraft is equipped with a wide range of communication facilities, providing connectivity with involved units and other control centers both on the ground and in the air, allowing anti-aircraft troops to transmit their data through the plane.

According to the official specifications, the ASC 890 can perform the following missions:

▫️Air and sea surveillance, including reconnaissance
▫️Early air warning
▫️Control over own military assets
▫️Surveillance and control of national borders
▫️Search and rescue
▫️Alarm notification
▫️Airspace protection

The crew consists of six people, and the aircraft can fly for about six hours.

These aircraft will provide Ukraine with "absolutely new opportunities for radar reconnaissance and combat control of targets in the air and at sea."