Ukraine has confirmed that the Swedish-supplied ASC 890 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft is already being used in combat operations, several months after the type was first seen flying over the country.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said the ASC 890 performed its first combat sorties over Ukraine in March 2026. The disclosure provides the first official confirmation that the radar aircraft has progressed from delivery and integration to operational use.
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Images of an ASC 890 apparently flying over Ukraine emerged in March, but its operational status and missions had not been confirmed at the time.
The aircraft is based on the Saab 340 regional turboprop and carries the Erieye active electronically scanned array radar in a fixed structure above the fuselage. Its elevated radar position allows it to detect and track airborne targets at greater distances than ground-based systems, particularly aircraft, missiles and drones operating at low altitude.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the ASC 890 can also coordinate combat aviation and provide information to support the employment of fighter aircraft.
First AEW&C capability
Sweden announced the donation in May 2024 as part of a SEK 13.3 billion (US$1.4 billion at current exchange rates) military aid package. The Swedish government said at the time that the ASC 890 would give Ukraine a new capability to detect airborne and maritime targets and identify threats at long range.
The package included two ASC 890 aircraft, together with training, technical equipment and support for airborne surveillance and command-and-control operations. Their transfer to Ukraine was confirmed in August 2025.
The introduction of the aircraft required more than simply transferring the two former Swedish Air Force platforms. Work was also carried out to integrate the new surveillance capability with Ukraine's growing fleet of Western combat aircraft.
Ukraine currently operates F-16s and French-supplied Mirage 2000s. The Defense Ministry said the ASC 890 is intended to form part of a networked air combat system connecting airborne surveillance with fighter operations and command and control.
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The ASC 890 was known as the S 100D Argus in Swedish service. Sweden decided to give up the aircraft while transitioning to the larger Saab GlobalEye, designated S 106 by the Swedish Air Force. The donation temporarily reduced Sweden's own airborne surveillance capability, prompting the country to accelerate its GlobalEye plans.
Operating an AEW&C aircraft over Ukraine also poses a different challenge from using similar platforms in peacetime. The ASC 890 is a relatively large and slow turboprop operating in an environment where Russia possesses long-range surface-to-air and air-to-air weapons.
Ukraine has disclosed little about where the aircraft operates, its mission profiles or how frequently it flies. The Defense Ministry's latest information establishes that combat sorties began in March, without providing details about individual missions or confirming whether both Swedish-supplied aircraft are currently operational.
