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Ukraine, Sweden Sign Agreement to Boost Joint Weapons Production
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine signed a Letter of Intent on joint military equipment production in Sweden, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on August 24.
“Ukraine and Sweden have agreed on joint defense production in both our countries. During my meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, we signed a letter of intent between our ministries that creates the foundation for new joint projects,” Shmyhal wrote following Jonson’s visit to Kyiv on August 23.
Shmyhal highlighted several key outcomes of the talks, including cooperation in aviation, joint training of pilots, and ongoing defense industrial projects. But his strongest words of thanks were reserved for Sweden’s delivery of the ASC 890 radar aircraft.
“I thanked the Swedish government in particular for providing ASC 890 airborne surveillance and control aircraft,” Shmyhal wrote, emphasizing the jets’ importance to Ukraine’s defense.
Sweden promised to donate two planes to Ukraine as part of its biggest aid package back in 2024.
Until that moment, Ukraine’s detection systems have been ground-based, limited in range and height coverage. The ASC 890, also known as the Saab 340 AEW, changes that equation.
Equipped with advanced radar capable of scanning up to 450 kilometers, it can detect enemy fighters from as far as 350 kilometers away—even through electronic jamming.
Crucially, the system can also spot low-flying cruise missiles that often evade ground radar.
The arrival of ASC 890s would also complement the deployment of Western-supplied F-16s. By serving as “flying command posts,” the Swedish aircraft can guide F-16s toward Russian fighters or cruise missiles well before they enter Ukrainian airspace.
🇸🇪🇵🇱 The first of two AEW (Airborne Early Warning) Saab 340 aircraft purchased by Poland from Sweden has landed in Gdynia. pic.twitter.com/Owk1pNnbyj
— Intermarium 24 (@intermarium24) March 7, 2024
Russia has relied on its own A50U radar aircraft to track Ukrainian forces from long distances, often flying missions over the Black Sea.
Earlier, Sweden’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the delivery of the ASC 890 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Ukraine is proceeding according to schedule.
