Ukraine's Swedish radar aircraft have operated inside Russian missile range for six months
Kyiv has revealed for the first time this week that its Swedish-made radar surveillance aircraft have been flying within range of Russia's missiles for six months, with none shot down so far.
Ukraine has disclosed for the first time this week information it had previously kept secret: its Swedish-made airborne radar surveillance planes have been flying missions within reach of Russian missiles for the past six months. Until now, Kyiv had made no public statement about this operation.
The radar systems fitted to these aircraft can detect targets at a distance of up to 450 kilometers, allowing them to monitor a wide stretch of airspace and territory, including areas deep beyond the front line. That same range, however, also brings risk: Russia's most capable missile can fly nearly as far, meaning the aircraft could theoretically be reached even while operating at considerable distance from Russian positions.
Despite this exposure, none of the aircraft has been shot down during the six months they have carried out these missions. This became public only after Kyiv decided to end its silence about the operation's existence.
Airborne radar planes are typically used as airspace surveillance and early-warning platforms, able to detect enemy aircraft and missile movements at long range and alert air-defense and aviation units in time to respond. Equipment of this kind is considered a strategically valuable asset, as it significantly improves the ability to react promptly to aerial threats.
The fact that the aircraft have survived six months of operation within a zone theoretically reachable by Russian missiles underscores their importance to Ukraine's defense system, as well as the risk Ukrainian air forces have taken on in carrying out this mission. Further details, such as the number of aircraft involved or the specific locations of the flights, have not been made public.
