The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Swedish-supplied ASC 890 airborne early warning and control aircraft flew its first combat sorties over Ukraine in March 2026. This marks the first official acknowledgment that the aircraft has entered operational use.
The ASC 890 is a Saab 340 regional turboprop equipped with an Erieye active electronically scanned array radar, designed to detect airborne targets at long range and coordinate combat air operations. Sweden pledged two of these radar planes in 2024, and Ukraine confirmed the transfer in August 2025. It remains unclear whether the second aircraft has arrived in Ukraine.
According to the ministry, the ASC 890 will operate alongside F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters to form the foundation of a networked air combat system aligned with NATO standards. This type provides Ukraine with its first dedicated airborne early warning and control capability.
