Military support package 16 to Ukraine – new capability to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and support to meet its prioritised needs

Ukraine’s needs remain immense and Russia is currently putting pressure on several fronts, intensifying its air strikes against both military and civilian objects. The Government will therefore provide Ukraine with another record military support package. Sweden’s support will contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s joint military capability.

Sweden will send Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft (ASC 890) to Ukraine and thus strengthen its air defence capability. Sweden will donate its entire stock of armoured tracked personnel carriers (PBV 302) to support the reconstruction of new Ukrainian brigades. Sweden will also donate artillery ammunition and resources for maintenance of previously donated materiel. 

Since Russia’s brutal war of aggression began in February 2022, Sweden has provided SEK 43.5 billion in support.

Air defence

The support package will include Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft (ASC 890), which will provide Ukraine with a completely new capability against both airborne and maritime targets. Ukraine’s capability to identify and engage targets at long range will be strengthened. The package will also include a holistic solution that involves training, technical equipment and methodological support for air surveillance and command and control. 

The donation will entail a temporary decrease of Sweden’s defence capability, which will be addressed by procuring additional S 106 GlobalEye aircraft and advancing previous orders for two new GlobalEye aircraft.

To further strengthen Ukraine’s air defence, the support package will also include the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (RB 99-AMRAAM), which can be used on aircraft and in ground-based air defence systems. The missiles will be redesigned to suit ground-based anti-aircraft systems. Meanwhile, Sweden will purchase new missiles to replace the donated ones.

Ammunition

Ukrainian field units are short on artillery ammunition. The package will include an addition of 155 mm artillery shells to increase Ukraine’s capability to combat Russian units in the depths of the battlefield.

The donation will entail a temporary decrease of Sweden’s defence capability, which will be addressed by procuring replacement grenades.

Strengthened reconstruction of new Ukrainian brigades

The Ukrainian army is organising a number of new brigades and therefore needs armoured vehicles for infantry companies. Therefore, Sweden will donate its entire stock of PBV 302, including spare parts, maintenance equipment and ammunition.

The donation will entail a temporary decrease of Sweden’s defence capability, which will be addressed by procuring replacement armoured vehicles.

Financial support, satellite communications, maintenance, tank vehicles and research

The 16th military support package will also contain the following:

• Surplus fuel transport vehicles from the Swedish Armed Forces;
• maintenance of previously donated Swedish materiel;
• financial support to capability coalitions;
• financial support to funds and temporary initiatives to enable swift and large-scale procurement of materiel to Ukraine;
• in connection with the package, the Swedish Defence Research Agency will be tasked with supporting Ukraine in establishing its own defence research institute;
• Ukraine’s command and control capability will be further strengthened in the package through a donation of terminals with subscriptions for satellite communications.