Rb 99 missiles: Sweden to provide Ukraine with a new military aid package

Sweden is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine. It will include mainly ammunition and spare parts for previously transferred armored vehicles.

This was announced on the official website of the Swedish government on August 15, 2023.

The total value of this defense assistance is approximately SEK 3.4 billion, or nearly $314 million.

This is the 13th military aid package for Ukraine from Sweden since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

“The government has decided on a new assistance package for Ukraine. The aid includes ammunition and spare parts for several systems of equipment that Sweden has previously donated to Ukraine,” the press release said.

It regards spare parts and ammunition for CV9040C (Stridsfordon 90) infantry fighting vehicles and Stridsvagn 122 tanks, which is the Swedish version of the German Leopard 2A5 tank.

Sweden is also donating vehicles, emergency rescue vehicles, and demining equipment.

In addition, the Swedish parliament authorized the government to sell Jaktrobot Rb 99 air-to-air missiles to the United States in 2023. The United States, in turn, will donate these missiles to Ukraine and offer Sweden a more modern version of the same class of air-to-air missiles.

The Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missile is a licensed version of the American AIM-120B (AMRAAM) missile with a range of up to 70 kilometers, which was previously assembled in Sweden. Swedish JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighters are armed with these missiles.

Presumably, these missiles will be used in the NASAMS air defense systems, which are in service with the Ukrainian Air Force.

After the transfer of the 13th aid package, the total value of military assistance provided by Sweden to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion exceeds SEK 20 billion (over $1.8 billion).

In July 2023, it became known that Sweden and France had signed agreements on defense procurement with Ukraine.