This week, the Ukrainian Ground Forces have accepted the delivery of Pansarbandvagn 302 (PBV 302) armored vehicles transferred by Sweden, part of a fleet of over 200 units committed by the Nordic country. Specifically, these will be part of the various military assistance packages worth over one billion dollars announced last May, which will extend over the next three years.
It is worth noting that the PBV 302 armored vehicles were designed by Hägglund & Söner in the 1960s, introduced into active service in 1966, and have seen combat deployment in the Balkans. However, the vehicle was retired by the Swedish Armed Forces ten years ago (with its replacement being the new IFV CV90), as it has become obsolete by current standards. While Ukrainian brigades currently lack such vehicles, especially given their advance in the Kursk region, the true effectiveness of the PBV 302 on the current battlefield remains to be seen.
For now, these vehicles have the capability to transport up to 8 soldiers (in addition to the 3-member crew), protected by external ceramic armor and an internal anti-splinter layer that allows them to withstand direct impacts from projectiles up to 20 mm. The PBV 302 is equipped with a 20 mm Hispano-Suiza automatic cannon, which in its glory days was mounted on Swedish combat aircraft. In terms of propulsion, the armored vehicle has a 270-horsepower diesel engine that allows it to reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Finally, expanding on the aid Sweden has committed to Ukraine throughout the course of the war, it should be remembered that in May, the transfer of a Saab 340 AEW&C airborne early warning and control aircraft was announced. Additionally, the Swedish Army transferred part of its fleet of Archer artillery systems, Leopard 2A5 tanks (referred to as Stridsvagn 122 in the Swedish Army), and the aforementioned CV90s. Regarding ammunition, the Swedes have contributed artillery ammunition of 155 mm, as well as RB-99 AMRAAM missiles, among other items.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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