Ukraine conflict: Kyiv confirms use of ASC 890 AEW&C aircraft

Seen in its former Swedish Air Force role, the Saab ASC 890 is now being flown operationally by Ukraine. (Saab)

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Ukraine has confirmed the operational use of the Saab Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASC) 890 early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft gifted by Sweden.

The MoD said on 4 September 2026 that the former Swedish Air Force (SwAF) aircraft that was announced in May 2024 had been providing airborne command and control to its combat aircraft since March 2026.

“Such an aircraft is capable of detecting air targets at a considerable distance, coordinating the actions of combat aircraft and increasing the effectiveness of the use of fighters. In combination with the F-16, Mirage 2000 and [soon-to-be-delivered] Gripen, it forms the basis of a modern network-centric air combat system according to NATO standards,” the MoD said.

As noted in Janes C4ISR & Mission Systems: Air, the ASC 890 derives its name from its Ericsson (now Saab Surveillance) PS-890 Erieye active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which is housed in a 9.7 m long dorsal ‘plank' atop the fuselage. This S-band radar is capable of covering 150° sectors to port and starboard (one side at a time) out to ranges of 450 km at 20,000 ft (although being an AESA, its beam can be focused to interrogate particular targets of interest at greater ranges, while still monitoring other areas of interest). It also has a limited scan capability both fore and aft.