Late last night, Russia attacked Ukraine with both missiles and drones, attacks that targeted several regions and lasted for several hours.
Now Sweden and Denmark have agreed to purchase new anti-aircraft guns.
It is Tridon, a new air-defense system from BAE Systems Bofors that can be mounted on various vehicles and is described as particularly effective at shooting down drones.
A very successful and rapidly developed system from the Swedish defense industry, says Pål Jonson.
The system can also shoot down cruise missiles and helicopters.
It is a capability that Ukraine needs, in light of the fact that the Russian crackdown is now very intense across much of Ukraine, not least when it comes to civilian infrastructure and population centers, says Jonson.
A battalion of their own
With the support, Ukraine can establish its own air defense battalion, according to Jonson. It is said to involve dozens of units with sophisticated ammunition.
It's an air defense battalion and complements the other air defense systems that the Ukrainians already have, he says.
The purchase contract will be signed shortly, and delivery is then estimated to take approximately one year.
Sweden is investing 2.1 billion kronor in the deal and Denmark is contributing the equivalent of 500 million kronor. The Swedish money has already been announced in previous aid packages to Ukraine.
It is an important donation to Ukraine that will strengthen their air defense capacity, which is unfortunately currently under severe pressure, says Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
Shoots quickly
The Tridon is based on the Bofors 40-millimeter automatic cannon and can fire about five rounds per second. The range is up to twelve kilometers.
Representatives from Ukraine have been on site during development, according to Lena Gillström, CEO of BAE Systems Bofors.
It hasn't been tested in Ukraine yet, because we are building the system now, but it has been tested on several occasions in Sweden, where we have been able to show how to take down particularly troublesome drones, she says.
