Sweden Sends Ukraine Entire Stock of 300 APCs
Oh, and they gave them two AWACS aircraft also!
Between 1966 and 2014, Sweden used the Pansarbandvagn 302 (PBV 302) as their highly mobile, tracked infantry fighting vehicle.
Pansarbandvagn directly translates to "armor track wagon."
The APC bears a striking resemblance to the US-made M113, albeit, not as boxy. In other words, this baby’s got curves.
It’s fitted with the powerful 20 mm Hispano-Suiza type 804 cannon. The 20 mm round is the smallest caliber of autocannon but arguably packs as much of a punch as the M2 Browning .50 caliber found on the M113.
In May, Sweden announced a large military support package valued at 13.3 billion Swedish Krona ($1.28 billion) which included just under 300 PBV 302s, as well as spare parts, maintenance equipment, and ammunition to support all of the APCs.
And now, thanks to a new video by Czech blogger Jiři Kožený, we’re now seeing those PBVs moving by train through the Ústí nad Labem railway station in the Czech Republic.
Sweden has newer APCs to replace its donated stock of PBVs, including the extremely capable Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) as well as several Finnish-made, wheeled infantry fighting vehicles like the Patria AMV.
Okay, so how might Ukraine put these vehicles to work?
The PBV has a crew of three – the commander, a driver, and a gunner – and can hold eight infantrymen. They dismount via two doors in the rear and can fire small arms through roof hatches while remaining somewhat protected.
Powered by a Volvo 10-liter diesel engine producing 270hp, its maximum road speed is 65 kph, and on-road and off-road ranges are 300 and 150 km, respectively.
With its wide tracks, the vehicle has low ground pressure and is known for its excellent off-road capability in snow and mud. It’s also fully amphibious. This will come in handy in Ukraine’s thaw in the spring of 2025.
It’s worth noting that the PBV doesn’t have night vision built in, but optics can be added after the fact. For operations in former Yugoslavia, some PBVs were fitted with additional armor protection as well.
Ukraine’s military is at its best when it has the freedom to perform lightning-fast ground maneuver – it’s proven this multiple times. These vehicles simply add and enhance that capability.
While the PBV may not be as hard-hitting or well-protected as the Bradley, it still provides a way for Ukraine to move troops quickly in relative protection from small-arms fire.
A Ukrainian mechanized battalion typically has between 520 and 600 personnel, depending on the type of vehicles used.
A battalion with BTR-70, BTR-80, BTR-3, or BTR-4 vehicles has around 600 personnel in 45 vehicles.
A battalion with BMP-1 or BMP-2 vehicles has around 520 personnel in 40 vehicles.
So, these 300 Swedish PBVs could outfit roughly seven new mechanized battalions.
Indeed, this is why Sweden agreed to donate these vehicles; at about the same time as the Swedish announcement, Ukraine announced the formation of new mechanized brigades.
But wait, there’s more!
Sweden’s support package also included two Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft, the SAAB 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), of which Sweden only operates two.
Both will be sent to Ukraine.
Of course, this will leave Sweden without any airborne warning capability – at least temporarily. Sweden is in the process of procuring three S 106 GlobalEye aircraft to be manufactured by SAAB and delivered in 2027.
Interestingly, the only current operator of the GlobalEye is the United Arab Emirates Air Force which flies four SAAB GlobalEye aircraft, with an additional one on order.
Back to the SAAB 340s that Ukraine is receiving… Compared to the traditional circular radar on AWACS planes, such as my jet, the E-3 Sentry, the SAAB 340 has a non-movable PS-890 AESA radar.
It offers lower drag but has a dead zone directly behind and in front of the plane, with a 120-degree zone of scan on either side of the airframe.
Its radar picture is comparable to the US E-3 Sentry and is capable of tracking ships, planes, and missiles up to 190-250 mi (300-400 km), while at an altitude of 20,000 ft (6,100 m).
According to the Swedish announcement, this will be a completely new capability for Ukraine. Until now, the country has relied on allied intelligence sources from NATO aircraft.
But these new AWACS for Ukraine will fit in nicely with their new F-16s and help facilitate command and control from the air; this is especially important as their Air Force continues to shift from Soviet doctrine to NATO standards.
Finally, as part of Sweden’s package, Ukraine will also be receiving the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (RB 99-AMRAAM), which can be used on aircraft and in ground-based air defense systems.
The package will also include an additional shipment of 155 mm artillery shells, fuel transport tankers, and an unspecified number of Starlink terminals (with subscriptions paid for). - Thanks, Elon!
And, perhaps most interesting, the Swedish Defense Research Agency will be tasked with supporting Ukraine in establishing its own “Western-aligned” defense research institute.
Clearly, the Swedish, like many of us, have an interest in helping Ukraine win its fight against its invaders. But I had no idea how magnanimous they could be.
I almost feel bad doing my famous Swedish chef impression from the Muppet Show, which is itself a parody of Swedish phonology and prosody. “Bork, Bork Bork.”
Still, as I’ve said all along, get Ukraine the tools and they’ll finish the fight.
Well, Sweden just sent Ukraine $1.3 billion worth of tools.
Now it’s time to finish what Russia started.
Слава Україні!
Thank you Sweden! 🇸🇪🇺🇦
What a great gizmo! I'd love to have one in my driveway but even though I'm in Florida, I would guess Ukraine has more need of these APCs.
My impression from this thoughtful gift of very expensive but practical items is that now that Sweden is with us all in NATO, they're quite serious about taking a significant role, and that's truly great.