Sweden Invests in Brigade Air Defence for 3.5 Billion

The government has announced new investments totalling 3.5 billion SEK to strengthen the Swedish Armed Forces' short-range air defence. The investment includes, among other things, the IRIS-T SLS missile system, modern radar systems, and new command solutions. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Air Defence Regiment in Halmstad (southern Sweden).

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson commented on the investment in a post on X:

– Today, the government is presenting a new enhancement to the Swedish air defence that makes the defence stronger and Sweden safer. […] The security situation has deteriorated following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, it is more important than ever to strengthen the defence and protection of the Swedish population.

According to the government, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has signed a contract worth 2 billion SEK for the purchase of IRIS-T SLS missile systems. An additional 1.5 billion SEK will be used for the procurement of vehicles and systems on which the air defence systems will be mounted. The investments include air defence systems, short-range radar systems, command vehicles, command centres, modification of existing systems, spare parts, and training. The goal is to establish four platoons of short-range brigade air defence at the Norrbotten Regiment I 19 and the Skaraborg Regiment P 4.

Both the government's and the Swedish Armed Forces' press releases indicate that the investment is being carried out within the framework of the 2024 defence decision, where the brigade air defence is to gain increased capability against threats such as combat aircraft, helicopters, and drones.

– Within the framework of the 2024 defence decision, the army is completing three mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, and one battle group. This upcoming delivery of air defence strengthens the brigades and our integration into NATO's air and missile defence, says Rear Admiral Bo Berg, Deputy Chief at the Implementation Unit of the Defence Staff, in the agency's press release.

In connection with the government's decision, Saab announces that the company has received an order from FMV for command and sensor systems for brigade air defence, with an order value of approximately 2.1 billion SEK. The order includes, among other things, the Command Support System Air Defence (LSS Lv), the radar Giraffe 1X, integration of effect systems, studies, and spare parts.

– We are extremely proud to contribute to an enhanced air defence capability for the Swedish army's brigades. The order provides increased capability to both lead, detect, and counter airborne threats through world-class command systems and sensors, says Carl-Johan Bergholm, Head of Saab's Business Area Surveillance, in the press release.

The government's decision builds on previous investments made during the year, where, among other things, CAMM missiles, anti-drone systems, and the medium-range IRIS-T SLM system have been procured. According to the government, orders exceeding 20 billion SEK have been placed in the past six months to strengthen Sweden's air defence capability.