Yesterday, the government presented the largest military support package to Ukraine to date, worth SEK 13.3 billion.
From the Ukrainian side, the alarm has previously been raised about an urgent need to strengthen the air defense.
– You can do that partly through the Amraam robots that we send and through the Asc 890, the airborne sensor, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).
The 16th military support package from Sweden to Ukraine was also the largest that Sweden presented. The package includes, among other things, artillery ammunition, which has been in short supply, and armored vehicles to facilitate mobilization. But Sweden also contributes material which, according to the government, “strengthens Ukraine’s combined air defence”.
To stop Russian attacks
Sweden will hand over its radar reconnaissance and control plan ASC 890, something that will weaken Swedish defense capabilities, but strengthen Ukraine’s as it becomes part of the fighter jet’s F-16 system.
– ASC 890 will give more effect to the F-16 system because it can lead the system in combat and improve the radar capability and offer better opportunities for different types of target selection, says Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M), to Nyhetsmorgon.
Ukraine is under constant attack from Russia, both in the form of drones and various types of robots that threaten large parts of the country. According to the defense minister, the fact that Sweden now chooses to hand over its plans gives Ukraine a greater chance of identifying attacks from Russia.
– This means introducing the F-16 system, which has the opportunity to receive support with battle command, but can also identify various threats, risks and incoming attacks, it could be cruise robots or drones, says Pål Jonson.
Jonson: Will have to support differently in the future
The handing over of the radar reconnaissance and control plan causes the Swedish defense capability to temporarily decrease. At the same time, Sweden will buy new grenades and an aircraft of the Golden Eye type.
The Minister of Defense emphasizes, however, that the support to Ukraine is an investment in Swedish security.
– We will continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes, but we will have to do it in a slightly different way in the future. We will have to go from donation to production, where we use the strong defense industrial base we have here in Sweden, says Jonson.