Why Is Everyone Talking About Ukraine’s New Swedish Spy Plane?
Ukraine finally has its own eyes in the sky, and no, it’s not a missile or a stealth jet. It’s a twin-prop regional airliner turned airborne command center: the Saab 340 AEW&C.
In this episode, I break down why Sweden’s donation of its ultra-rare Erieye radar aircraft may be one of the most important military systems Ukraine has received to date.
As someone who flew on the U.S. E-3 Sentry AWACS in the Air Force, I know firsthand how critical airborne early warning and control really is. The difference? The Saab 340 isn’t trying to compete with the massive American AWACS—it’s doing something smarter: providing real-time radar coverage and battle management right from Ukrainian airspace. No more relying on NATO intel from the sidelines. This is the next evolution in Ukraine’s air power.
From vectoring F-16s onto Russian fighters without turning on their own radars, to catching cruise missiles the second they’re launched from deep inside Russia, this little “canoe-on-top” aircraft is now the most dangerous bird in Ukraine’s skies. And it just might signal Ukraine’s transition from reactive defense to proactive air dominance.
In this video, I’ll walk you through:
• What the Saab 340 AEW&C is and how it works
• The Erieye radar’s strengths—and its limitations
• How this system will enable ambushes, air superiority, and smarter SAM deployment
• Why Sweden giving away one of only two airframes is such a massive gesture
• How this could reshape NATO-style coordination for Ukraine’s growing Air Force
Credit to : Wes O’Donnell
