Sweden Donates Erieye AEW&C Aircraft to Ukraine, Leaving Shortfall Until GlobalEye Delivery

In a move that underscores both military solidarity and capability transition, Sweden has donated its Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft equipped with Erieye radars to Ukraine, leaving its own Air Force temporarily without airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms.

The decision was part of Sweden’s largest military aid package to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, announced in May 2024. The two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft — designated ASC 890 and fitted with active electronically scanned Erieye surveillance radar — provide long-range air, land, and maritime detection and command and control support. They are already being integrated into Ukrainian operations.

Why Sweden Donated Its AEW&C Aircraft

The Erieye-equipped Saab 340 platforms offered Sweden a capable airborne sensor that could detect and track targets at considerable distances. But Stockholm decided to transfer these assets to Kyiv to help strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and surveillance — particularly as Ukraine prepares to integrate Western fighter aircraft such as F-16s into its air force.

Sweden’s defence minister noted that the transfer would temporarily reduce its own surveillance capability, but that this would be addressed through procurement and accelerated delivery of next-generation systems.

GlobalEye: Sweden’s Future AEW&C Backbone

To fill the capability gap left by the donation, Sweden placed an order with Saab in 2022 for two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 platform and featuring advanced Erieye ER extended-range radar. These aircraft are scheduled for delivery starting in 2027.

Additionally, in 2024 Sweden ordered a third GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, expanding its future airborne surveillance fleet and increasing the pace at which the capability will be restored.

Short-Term Gap and Long-Term Strategy

While Sweden’s defence budget — approximately US$11–12 billion annually — supports modernisation and reinvestment, the transfer of its legacy AEW&C platforms means Sweden must rely on NATO and allied warning networks in the interim. However, Stockholm’s enhanced GlobalEye buy and accelerated delivery plans aim to restore and expand sovereign airborne surveillance capabilities later this decade.

A Strategic Choice in European Security

Sweden’s AEW&C gift to Ukraine reflects a broader strategic commitment to European collective security, even at the cost of a temporary capability shortfall at home. It also highlights the rapid transition underway in airborne early warning technology as older platforms make way for more advanced sensor systems like GlobalEye.