Two Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots walk and talk as a Royal Thai Air Force SAAB 340 AEW taxies past during Exercise Cope Tiger 16, on Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, March 7, 2016. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech Sgt. Aaron Oelrich/Released)
Ukraine has received the first of two promised ASC 890 Airborne Surveillance and Control (AEW&C) aircraft from Sweden, the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency reported on April 21.
According to the news agency, the ACS 890 made its first test flight in the western region of Lviv. Data from tracking websites confirmed the flight.
Click to see full-size image. (Flightradar24)
Last year, the Swedish government pledged to supply two of its ASC 890 AEW&C aircraft to Ukraine as a part of its 16th military aid package for the country. At the time, the government said that the aircraft would enable Kiev forces to identify and engage targets at long range.
The ASC 890, which is based on the Saab 340 aircraft, has a non-movable PS-890 active electronically scanned array radar made with the Erieye system. The system offers lower drag, but has a dead zone directly behind and in front of the plane, with a 120 degree zone of scan on either side of the airframe.
The aircraft is capable of tracking ships, aircraft and missiles up to 300-400 kilometers while at an altitude of 20,000 feets with an endurance of around five hours.
The decision to supply the aircraft to Ukraine was very questionable. First because the country has absolutely no experience in operating AEW&C aircraft, and second because it would be nearly impossible to protect such aircraft from Russian fire.
To be effective, the ASC 890 will have to fly on lengthy high-altitude patrols near the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, close to the Black Sea or over western Ukraine during Russian missile and drone attacks. This would, however, leave the aircraft exposed to Russian long-range anti-aircraft fire, like the R-37M air-to-air missile and the S-400 and S-500 air defense systems.
The unique-looking aircraft will also be too difficult to hit, which means that the Russian military could target it on the ground using long-range ballistic or cruise missiles.
All in all, the Swedish decision to supply ACS 890 AEW&C aircraft to Ukraine was without a doubt one of the weirdest episodes of the unhinged Western support of the Kiev regime. This stunt could fireback, as the destruction of the aircraft would be a blow to the morale of Kiev forces.
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la russia vince solo se ha la tecnica più avanzata, sino adesso non lo ha dimostrato.
probably very soon it will be down, and few swedes dead.
easy come, easy go….
russia needs to find it and take it out.
down it as soon as they can and repeat on number 2 whennitis delivered!