The Saab 340 AEW, additionally referred to as the S 100D Argus, will improve Ukraine’s situational consciousness when dealing with Russian cruise missile and kamikaze drone barrages.
Ukraine seems to have acquired its first Airborne Early Warning and Management (AEW&C) plane, after the Swedish Saab 340 airborne radar was noticed flying in an unofficial video that emerged on Mar. 20, 2026. The following chat thread within the X put up claimed that the video, which first emerged on a Russian Telegram channel, had been recorded in Sweden however, as different customers identified, the voices within the background are of individuals talking Ukrainian.
The video due to this fact seems to be authentic, though it isn’t identified when and the place the video was captured, however to this point there’s little to recommend the video is faux or taken in a rustic exterior Ukraine. The Saab 340 may be clearly recognized with its distinctive ‘steadiness beam’ radar fairing on prime of the fuselage.
Army assist to Ukraine up to date with:
Delivered:
– 🇸🇪 “Unknown variety of” Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning and Management Plane pic.twitter.com/ugixlwYNsa
— Jeff2146🇧🇪 (@Jeff21461) March 20, 2026
This improvement comes practically two years after Sweden introduced it could switch the AEW&C plane to Ukraine on Might 29, 2024. The switch of two S 100D Argus, because the plane is designated in Sweden, was part of a bigger 13.3 billion Krona ($1.3 billion) protection bundle that additionally included armored carriers and artillery ammunition.
The plane can go a great distance in detecting the air-launched Kh-101 long-range missiles that Russia generally fires as deep as western Ukraine. On the similar time, the Saab 340 would additionally cut back dependence on European and NATO airborne early warning assets – not less than for aerial radar surveillance of its airspace.
Radar and digital reconnaissance missions skirting Belarusian and Russian borders over the Baltic and Nordic airspace would proceed to be the remit of the alliance’s and the U.S. Air Drive’s E-3 Sentry AWACS and RC-135 Rivet Joints – not less than for the close to future.
The Swedish Deliveries Enhance Ukrainian Capabilities
Sweden has introduced greater than 200 APCs for Ukraine, a couple of missiles, and their Two radar plane, the 340 AEW.
These Saab-340 AEW (ASC-890 AEW&C) plane are geared up with side-looking AFAR radars, able to working… pic.twitter.com/AXXEiToPYg
— Patricia Marins (@pati_marins64) Might 31, 2024
Saab 340 AEW&C
The Saab 340 AEW&C is predicated on the twin-turboprop Saab 340, whose main sensor is the Erieye radar, with the general system being designated because the S 100D Argus or the Airborne Surveillance and Management (ASC) 890 by Sweden. The Erieye is a set non-movable Lively Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) that has been reported to have a spread of 300-400 km, with a significant limitation being the side-facing arrays not permitting entrance and rear surveillance.
Sweden operated solely two of those plane, each of which have been donated to Ukraine, whereas the Swedish Air Drive (Flygvapnet) awaits the extra superior Saab GlobalEye AEW&C. The Royal Thai Air Drive (RTAF) is one other S 100D Argus consumer, working two of the platforms since 2012.
Przestrzeń powietrzna pod specjalnym nadzorem. Polskie Saab 340 AEW rozpoczynają dyżury operacyjne@MON_GOV_PL @SztabGenWP @DGeneralneRSZ @DowOperSZ pic.twitter.com/aIYLMfBd59
— polska_zbrojna (@Polska_Zbrojna) November 22, 2024
The Polish Air Drive (PolAF) is one other consumer of the plane, with two acquired second-hand from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2024. Though glad with the platform as an interim association, the service had touched upon different points, such because the absence of a Hyperlink 16 datalink that thus prevents networking with different NATO and European property.
How would Ukraine use it?
When the switch was introduced, reviews talked about that Ukrainian Air Drive (UkrAF) personnel can be skilled by the Swedish Air Drive (Flygvapnet), with the coaching lasting round a 12 months. As talked about earlier, the Saab 340 AEW would give Ukraine a rise in situational consciousness whereas countering Russian assaults.
The Saab 340 can fly at altitudes of 20,000 ft offering Ukrainian air protection’s command and management a major increase in situational consciousness on incoming low-flying ALCMs and Geran-type One-Method Assault (OWA) drones.
Nonetheless, it may be secure to say that flying the plane wherever past western Ukraine in help of F-16 and Mirage 2000 operations would put them inside attain of the 300 km vary R-37M missiles carried by Russian Su-35S and Su-30SM/SM2 jets. Being a excessive worth asset, the AEW plane would fly in areas the place Ukraine has air superiority to protect the vital functionality.
Interception of Russian cruise missiles by Ukrainian F-16 pilots throughout immediately’s Russian mass assault. It’s famous that absolutely the majority of downed Russian cruise missiles immediately are the results of the work of F-16 crews. pic.twitter.com/Ilgd80OcVR
— Particular Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2025
Ukraine may additionally elect to periodically transfer the plane, because it has executed with its fighter jets because the begin of the battle, to keep away from its fundamental working base coming beneath a Russian missile strike. Ukrainian bases have usually been focused by the Kh-101 and the Kh-69 (X-69) air-launched cruise missiles, with the previous having a reported vary of two,500-2,800 km, as per the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research (CSIS).
The Saab 340 would go a great distance in monitoring the Kh-101, earlier than it hits what Russia continuously describes as vitality infrastructure, “civilian-military” and “military-industrial” targets. The weapon is thought to maneuver mid-flight to keep away from interception, has decoy-dispensing variations and has struck so far as Ternopil and Lviv in far-western Ukraine.
Ukraine has not too long ago used its western F-16s and Mirage 2000s to shoot down the Kh-101s with AIM-9 Sidewinders and R550 Magic short-range AAMs, respectively. Though efficient, the missions put on down the airframes with uneven roles.
Footage printed immediately by the Ukrainian Air Drive displaying a French-supplied Mirage 2000-5F with six kill marks for Russian cruise missiles, doubtless Kh-101s downed throughout missions over Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/i1vggw6OkM
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 17, 2025
Ukraine had additionally signed on for 100-150 Gripen fighters in October 2025. Even with out the Swedish fighter jet, the Saab 340/S 100D Argus AEW&C plane will exponentially ease goal prioritization and project of targets throughout front-wide Russian missile and drone barrages.
