Sweden to transfer all its Pansarbandvagn 302 APCs to Ukraine

29 May, 2024 Pansarbandv?gn 302 (Pbv 302) armored personnel carrier. Photo credits: wikimedia.org Sweden will transfer all its Pansarbandvagn 302 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.

The Swedish government said that the armored vehicles would be included in the 16th defense aid package. The Ukrainian military is currently forming a number of new brigades and therefore needs additional armored vehicles. "Sweden will transfer the entire Swedish fleet of Pansarbandvagn 302 (Pbv 302) to support the formation of new brigades of the Ukrainian military," the government said.

The Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers will be supplied with spare parts, maintenance equipment, and ammunition.

Pansarbandv?gn 302 (Pbv 302) armored personnel carrier. Photo credits: wikimedia.org

The Swedish government noted that the donation temporarily decreases the country's defense capability, so the Swedish Defense Ministry will purchase new armored vehicles.

Sweden will also provide tanker trucks and resources to maintain the previously donated equipment. The Swedish Pansarbandvagn 302 tracked armored personnel carrier was developed by Haglund & Soner in the 1960s. The military started using them in 1966, and a total of 644 vehicles were produced.

Pansarbandv?gn 302 (Pbv 302) armored personnel carrier, 2009. Photo: flickr.com

By the standards of the 1960s, the Pbv 302 armored personnel carrier received extremely powerful armament in the form of a HS804 20mm automatic gun. The hull is welded from steel plates, with the side plates having a two-layer structure.

The frontal plates can withstand a 20-mm shell hit.

Sweden is also donating an ASC 890 airborne surveillance and control aircraft to Ukraine.

It will provide Ukraine with completely new capabilities for airborne surveillance and combat target control in the air and at sea.