Ukraine’s Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning Radar Plane Spotted Operating Over The Country

Footage has emerged claiming to show a Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft operating over Ukraine. If legitimate, it would be, to our knowledge, the first time radar aircraft have been seen in Ukrainian service and would mark a significant new capability for Ukraine that we have discussed in depth in the past.

The Russians are releasing images they claim show a Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C long-range radar and control aircraft, possibly flying over Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/XkFZlok2B3

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) March 20, 2026

The video in question appears to have been first published on a Russian Telegram account and clearly shows one of the aircraft in daytime level flight, with its distinctive ‘balance beam’ radar coating on the upper fuselage. The date and location of the video cannot be verified. It’s also worth noting that we can’t verify the footage itself, but there’s nothing to suggest it might have been doctored.

As mentioned, this appears to be the first time we have seen one of the Ukrainian Air Force’s two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft, although there are suggestions that this type has been flying in Ukrainian skies for some time.

In April last year, open source flight tracking platforms made a suggestion: possible Ukrainian radar aircraft It operated in the Lviv region of western Ukraine, flying tours and using the callsign WELCOME. Before this, an unidentified aircraft with the same callsign had been observed operating in the airspace near Poland and Hungary. If true, this indicates that the route over Lviv could be a post-delivery acceptance or calibration flight. It’s also worth noting that transponders can be modified to provide fake aircraft tracks.

As we reported at the time, it was announced in May 2024 that Stockholm was transferring two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft to Ukraine. The donation was part of Sweden’s largest military aid package to Ukraine up to that point, worth approximately $1.25 billion.

It was said at the time that it would take approximately a year to prepare ground facilities for the new aircraft, as well as training aircrew and maintenance personnel.

The Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft is known in Swedish military service as ASC 890 and alternatively as S 100D Argus. The Swedish Air Force operated two of these aircraft and it is understood that both were supplied to Kiev. Two other ex-Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft are operated by Thailand and a further pair sold to PolandIt was previously operated by the United Arab Emirates.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the Saab 340 AEW&C for Ukraine.

It brings a completely new capability for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has never operated any AEW&C platform.

The core of the aircraft is the Saab Erieye active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. This device, carried above the fuselage, can detect air and sea targets up to a range of approximately 280 miles, with the aircraft typically operating at an altitude of 20,000 feet. ReportedlyThe AESA system can track up to 1,000 airborne and 500 surface targets simultaneously.

All this data is processed by three mission teams: a mission control officer, a combat control operator and a surveillance operator. It can also be downlinked to ground stations and other aircraft, at least in theory.

Unlike surface-based air defense radar, Erieye provides a ‘look down’ capability. Without the line-of-sight limitations of terrain, the radar would be particularly useful in detecting low-flying Russian drones and cruise missiles. These are extremely challenging targets due to the low altitudes at which they fly and their small radar signature. With this in mind, the aircraft is expected to provide a major situational awareness boost to Ukraine’s air defenses.

Within its layered air defense network, Ukraine relies heavily on crewed fighter jets (and other aircraft platforms) to intercept drones and cruise missiles. When the Saab 340 AEW&C is added to the equation, the radar aircraft needs to be able to operate like a fighter jet controller, detecting targets, prioritizing them, and then assigning them to fighter planes for interception. Likewise, this data can be provided to other air defense assets.

Particularly useful in this regard will be the NATO standard Link 16 datalink communications system. This would theoretically be compatible with Ukraine’s F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets, as well as land-based air defense systems supplied by the West.

However, in late 2024 reported It was stated that the Link 16 systems of the F-16s donated to Ukraine were removed or disabled due to the US’s concern that they could fall into Russian hands.

This would deprive fighters of real-time air defense ‘image’ from the Erieye radar, and it is unclear at this point whether Link 16 connectivity is available for Ukraine.

It was reported that as of March 2025, the deliveries of radar planes continue and they can serve effectively with Ukraine’s F-16s.

The Lithuanian official said, “The timing of ASC 890 deliveries is related to when some changes to the F-16 fighter jets will be ready. There is no delay in the transfer of airborne early warning aircraft to Ukraine.” delphi news agency reported. This looks a lot like a reference activation Link 16 connection.

But even without Link 16, the Saab 340 AEW&C can provide much more advanced air and maritime surveillance for Ukraine.

Later versions of the Erieye radar also feature a synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) capability, but it is unclear whether Ukraine also received it. SAR provides detailed image-like mapping of the ground at long distances, while GMTI detects and tracks movements on the ground over time, which will allow tracking of Russian troop movements.

If Ukraine’s ambitious plans to purchase Saab Gripen fighter jets in the future come true, the combination of these jets and the Saab 340 AEW&C could create a tailor-made solution for air defense and other missions.

Despite all its capabilities, the Saab 340 AEW&C will also be a priority target for Russia.

Russia’s own A-50 Mainstay AEW&C aircraft have been repeatedly targeted by Ukraine in recognition of their value as force multipliers.

Russia estimated to have nine A-50s In active service at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. I’ve had two since then dealing with lossesand another one of these planes Damaged in drone attack It is located at a base in Belarus and its current status is unknown. More recently, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine He claimed that A-50 was shot down An attack was carried out on a maintenance facility in the Novgorod region of Russia.

This fact almost certainly means that Ukraine operates Saab radar planes from the far west of the country, possibly moving them between airfields to reduce their exposure to air attacks. Similar tactics are used by Ukrainian F-16s. It is also impossible for a maximum of two aircraft to have 24-hour coverage; therefore, it may well be possible to keep an aircraft on constant ground alert, particularly to respond to intense Russian drone and missile attacks.

This is probably why we have not seen the Ukrainian Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft since its delivery.

Over time, we hope to learn more about what these stealth assets add to Ukraine’s air defenses and what impact they have against the near-constant Russian drone and missile attacks.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com