Sweden will donate aircraft and armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine. The support package is valued at 13.3 billion kronor and marks the sixteenth military support package, the largest of its kind.

During a press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch (Christian Democrats), Defence Minister Pål Jonson (Moderate Party), the Sweden Democrats' foreign policy spokesperson Aron Emilsson, and the Liberals' defence policy spokesperson Anna Starbrink, the politicians announced that the Tidö parties are in agreement on a new military support package for Ukraine.

Last week, the government and the Sweden Democrats decided on a three-year framework for military support to Ukraine totalling 75 billion kronor: 25 billion per year for the period 2024–2026.

Sweden will donate its two radar reconnaissance and command aircraft model S 100D (also known as ASC 890), which are battle management and air surveillance platforms. According to the Swedish Armed Forces, air battle managers on board the aircraft can share radar information with other units and also direct their own aircraft against targets.

– The aircraft has been used by the Swedish Armed Forces in its current form since 2010 and will be transferred to Ukraine as the already donated F-16 aircraft come into operation. The government is therefore accelerating the procurement of the reconnaissance and radar aircraft GlobalEye (see image), says Pål Jonson. Additionally, a third aircraft will be ordered, rather than the two that were originally planned.

The entire Swedish stock of Armoured Personnel Carrier 302, along with associated spare parts, equipment, and ammunition, will be donated to Ukraine. Although not all of the Swedish stock is modernised today, Ukraine can do so on-site. Aron Emilsson announced that a replacement procurement will be made, but did not specify further during the press conference.

To further strengthen Ukraine's air defence, the support package includes the Rb 99 (AMRAAM) air-to-air missile, which can be used both on aircraft and by ground-based air defence systems. The Rb 99 is being donated to Ukraine in collaboration with the USA and will be adapted for use in ground-based air defence systems. At the same time, Sweden is purchasing new air-to-air missiles as replacements.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Defence, the sixteenth military support package also includes:

  • 155 mm artillery shells
  • Armoured vehicles that are surplus from the Swedish Armed Forces
  • Maintenance solutions for previously donated Swedish materiel
  • Financial support for capability coalitions
  • Financial support for funds and temporary initiatives to enable rapid and large-scale procurement of materiel for Ukraine
  • The Swedish Defence Research Agency is tasked with supporting Ukraine in establishing its own defence research institute in connection with the package
  • Ukraine's command and control capability is further strengthened in the package through a donation of terminals with subscriptions for satellite communication.