Sweden and Denmark have announced a joint €245 million military aid package for Ukraine, centered on the delivery of advanced TRIDON Mk2 mobile air defence systems, as Russia sharply escalates missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The move underscores a broader European effort to plug persistent gaps in Ukraine’s air defence at a time when Western supplies remain stretched and Russian long-range strike capabilities continue to evolve.
What Is Being Sent — and Who Is Paying?
The two Nordic countries will jointly procure the TRIDON Mk2 system for Ukraine at a total cost of 2.6 billion Swedish kronor (€245 million).
- Sweden will cover 2.1 billion kronor, or more than 80% of the total
- Denmark will provide the remaining funding
According to Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson, the package will be sufficient to allow Ukraine to establish a full air defence battalion, significantly boosting its ability to protect key infrastructure.
“This is a platform that can take out cruise missiles and long-range strike drones,”
Jonson said.
“That is exactly the capability Ukraine needs given the increase in Russia’s long-range attack capacity.”
Why the TRIDON Mk2 Matters
The TRIDON Mk2 is a mobile anti-aircraft artillery system specifically designed to counter:
- Cruise missiles
- Shahed-type loitering munitions
- Long-range attack drones
Unlike high-end systems such as Patriot or SAMP/T, which are limited in number and costly to operate, the TRIDON Mk2 offers:
- Rapid deployment
- Lower operational costs
- Flexibility in defending dispersed targets like power plants and substations
Sweden says the system was developed at “record pace”, incorporating battlefield lessons drawn directly from Ukraine’s experience since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022.
Energy Infrastructure Under Sustained Russian Attack
The announcement comes amid one of the most severe phases of infrastructure targeting in the war.
Since late 2024, Russia has intensified strikes on:
- Power plants
- Electricity substations
- Heating facilities
- Water pumping stations
Despite launching fewer missiles and drones in January, Russian forces focused attacks on high-impact energy nodes, causing widespread outages. Millions of Ukrainians have faced rolling blackouts during winter, with heating and water supply disrupted in multiple regions.
On Tuesday alone, Russia launched approximately 450 drones and 70 missiles in one of the largest combined barrages of the war — widely seen as an attempt to pressure Kyiv ahead of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
How This Fits Into Europe’s Broader Military Support
Since Russia’s invasion, European countries have collectively become Ukraine’s largest military backers, surpassing the United States in cumulative commitments.
According to public government and EU tallies:
- EU institutions and member states have pledged over €50 billion in military aid
- Germany alone has committed more than €17 billion, including IRIS-T air defence systems, Leopard 2 tanks, and artillery
- France has supplied SCALP cruise missiles, Caesar howitzers, and armored vehicles
- Italy and France jointly delivered SAMP/T air defence systems, though in limited numbers
- The Netherlands has funded Patriot systems, F-16 deliveries, and ammunition
- Poland and the Baltic states have contributed a higher share of GDP than any other European countries, supplying tanks, air defence, and ammunition
Nordic countries, while smaller in size, have played an outsized role:
- Denmark was the first to commit F-16 fighter jets
- Sweden has provided CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Archer artillery, and now advanced air defence
Is Europe Doing Enough on Air Defence?
Despite these contributions, Ukraine continues to face critical shortfalls in air defence, particularly for:
- Protecting civilian infrastructure
- Defending medium-sized cities
- Countering mass drone saturation attacks
High-end systems like Patriot remain scarce, while Russia has adapted tactics to overwhelm defences using cheaper drones combined with missile strikes.
In that context, systems like TRIDON Mk2 fill an important — but still insufficient — layer in Ukraine’s defensive network.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged the pressure, saying Ukraine’s air defence capacity has been “under severe strain in recent months.”
A Strategic Signal Beyond the Battlefield
Beyond its military utility, the joint Swedish-Danish announcement sends a political message.
At a time when US support has faced delays and uncertainty, European governments are signaling that:
- Long-term military assistance will continue
- Support is shifting toward sustainable, scalable systems
- Ukraine’s defence is increasingly being integrated into European security planning
However, critics argue that while Europe’s commitments are large in aggregate, delivery remains too slow to match the pace of Russian escalation.
A Necessary but Partial Response
The TRIDON Mk2 delivery will meaningfully strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend energy infrastructure and civilian areas at a critical moment in the war. But it also highlights a persistent imbalance: Russia can still launch hundreds of drones and missiles in a single night, while Ukraine must carefully ration its interceptors.
Sweden and Denmark’s €245 million contribution is a significant step — yet it also underscores the reality that air defence, not tanks or territory, has become the decisive battlefield of the war.
Until Europe and its allies can deliver air defence at scale, Ukraine’s cities, power grid, and civilians will remain on the front line.
