Sweden included air defense systems in new military aid package to Ukraine
Фото: BAE Systems
Sweden announced its intention to provide Ukraine with air defense systems but did not specify which ones
This was stated at a press conference by the country's Defense Minister, Paul Johnson, EP writes.
As noted, the Swedish government presented a winter aid package to Ukraine on Wednesday. It consists of three parts:
- humanitarian,
- military,
- political support within the EU.
It is reported that the cost of such a package is SEK 720 million from the government ($60 million).
In addition to anti-aircraft systems, the military package includes:
- off-road vehicles,
- winter gear,
- means of protection,
- tents
"Obviously, Ukraine is defending itself well against the russian offensive, far beyond expectations, and a partial explanation for this is that they receive broad support from other countries," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, also announced the provision of a new aid package from Sweden.
"I informed Ulf Kristersson, the Prime Minister of Sweden, about the new wave of missile terror of the russian federation… I thanked him for the new defense aid package. We enhance Ukrainian-Swedish cooperation," the Head of State wrote on Twitter.
Informed Ulf Kristersson @SwedishPM of the new wave of RF's missile terror. This act of genocide of Ukrainians in response to my peace plan is a cynical slap in the face of G19 @g20org & the world. Thanked for the new package of 🇸🇪 defense aid to 🇺🇦. We enhance 🇺🇦🇸🇪 cooperation
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 15, 2022
As a reminder, Ukraine expects to receive modern artillery and portable anti-aircraft missile systems from Sweden. In particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden said in August that "the Directorate of Logistics and the Armed Forces will evaluate the possibility of providing Archer artillery, MANPADS RBS 70".
Reference
Archer
The artillery unit of the Archer AS is represented by a 155-mm FH 77B gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers.
The device lets you release 6 shells in 30 seconds along different trajectories.
The complex can be transported by an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft.
The maximum firing range is 30 km with a conventional projectile (HE), 40 km with an active-reactive projectile (HE ER), and 60 km with an Excalibur-guided projectile.
The maximum rate of fire of the Archer self-propelled guns is 8-9 shots per minute, and the deployment time is 30 seconds.
RBS 70
RBS 70 is a short-range Swedish-made anti-aircraft missile system, the missile of which is guided by laser radiation. It creates a corridor along which the missile flies.
At launch, the RB-70 rocket is ejected from the container at a speed of 50 m/s. Then the cruise engine is turned on, which works for 6 seconds, accelerating the missile to supersonic speed (M=1.6).
The missiles have an effective flight range of up to 8 km and an altitude of up to 5 km.
