The Western media has started a fuss about the Swedish ASC-890 (Saab 340) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, which, it is claimed, can strengthen the air defense system of any country. Military expert Evgeny Damantsev spoke about the characteristics of reconnaissance aircraft, emphasizing that Russia has something to respond to this threat.
According to Breaking Defence, the Swedish Ministry of Defense stated that the Saab-manufactured reconnaissance aircraft is in many ways superior to AEW&C aircraft of other countries.
These are completely new capabilities for airborne radar reconnaissance and combat control against targets in the air and at sea.
Western journalists clarified that ASC-890 can be used to detect and track targets "quickly, with high accuracy and high update rate."
Evgeny Damantsev explained that this is achieved through two-sided AESA radars PS-890 Erieye side view. These radars operate in the "air-to-air" and surface radar reconnaissance modes. According to him, the aircraft can detect target illumination and SAM guidance radars, as well as launchers of OTRK.
PS-890 detects air targets with an effective reflecting surface (ERS) of 3 m² at a distance of 350 km. At the same time, targets with an ERS of 0.02 m² are tracked at a distance of 110 km, he noted.
What is the threat?
According to the military expert, ASC-890 aircraft will be able to transmit target designation to NASAMS, SAMP-T, IRIS-T SLM and Patriot PAC-3MSE SAM systems to intercept Russian Kh-101, Kh-69, Onyx and Kh-59MK missiles beyond the radio horizon. In addition, Swedish aircraft can issue target designations to F-16AM fighter pilots for the use of long-range AIM-120D missiles against Russian tactical aviation.
How can Russia respond?
Damantsev added that ASC-890 radars will be able to detect launchers of Iskander-M OTRK and S-400 complexes at a distance of up to 250 km. After that, the aircraft are able to transmit target designation to ATACMS OTRK. To avoid this, it is necessary to destroy the Swedish AEW&C aircraft, he stressed.
According to the military expert, Swedish ASC-890 aircraft are vulnerable due to PS-890 radars. Equipped with active-passive radar homing heads (ARH) missiles Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" and anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) 40N6 and 9M82MD/MV of S-400 and S-300V4 complexes detect the radiation of PS-890. They can capture the target and ensure its destruction at a distance of 380-400 km.
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