A Strf9040C in Swedish service. By Wikimedia user (Jorchr)
On January 19, the Swedish government announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth 4.3 billion Swedish crowns ($419 million).
The new package includes 50 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), an unspecified number of Archer self-propelled howitzers, additional NLAW anti-tank missiles as well as mine-clearing equipment and assault rifles.
“Military support for Ukraine is absolutely critical,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a press conference. “Ukraine’s wishes in terms of what they want carry a lot of weight in our decision.”
The CV90 can carry up to eight troops in addition to a crew of three. The IFV is typically armed with the 40mm Bofors L/70 autocannon and a 7.62 mm Ksp m/39 machine gun. It’s basic armour provides all-round protection against 14.5 mm armour-piercing rounds. The Swedish military has more than 540 CV90s in service.
On the other hand, the Swedish military operates 48 Archers only. The howitzer system is made of a FH 77 derived 155 mm/52-calibre howitzer mounted on a modified Volvo Construction Equipment A30D articulated haul truck 6×6.
The howitzer has a firing range of 30 kilometers with slandered shells and up to 50 kilometers when firing American-made M982 Excalibur precision-guided rounds. It features a fully automatic magazine with a rate of fire up to 20 rounds in 2,5 minutes. Some observers believe that Ukraine could receive up to 12 Archers.
A deployed Archer howitzer. By Wikimedia user (Ibaril)
The last key part of the new Swedish military aid package to Ukraine, the NLAW, was developed in cooperation with Britain. The missile is guided by PLOS [predicted line of sight] with fire-and-forget capability. It has a range of 1,000 meters only and can penetrate more than 500 mm of rolled homogeneous armour.
The NLAW can be preprogramed to attack its target directly or from the top. Ukraine has already received thousands of NLAW missiles from Sweden and the United Kingdom.
A Ukrainian soldier training with a NLAW missile. Source: the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
The new military aid package represents Sweden’s largest contribution to Kiev forces since the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine around a year ago.
The Swedish move came amid ongoing efforts by the United States to step up the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine ahead of Spring, possibly to support a large-scale counter-offensive against the Russian military.
