The Swedish government has announced new investments totalling 3.5 billion Swedish kronor to strengthen the Swedish Armed Forces' (Försvarsmakten) short-range air defence capabilities. The investment includes fire units of the type IRIS-T SLS (eldenhet 98), modern radar systems, and new command solutions. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Air Defence Regiment in Halmstad (southwestern Sweden).
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson commented on the investment in a post on X:
"Today the government presents a new reinforcement to Swedish air defence that makes the defence stronger and Sweden safer. [...] The security situation has deteriorated following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is therefore more important than ever to strengthen the defence and the protection of the Swedish population."
According to the government, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has signed a contract worth 2 billion kronor for the purchase of IRIS-T SLS fire units. A further 1.5 billion kronor 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, battle management centres, modification of existing systems, spare parts, and training. The aim is to establish four platoons of short-range brigade air defence at Norrbotten Regiment I 19 (northern Sweden) and Skaraborg Regiment P 4 (western Sweden).
Both the government's and the Swedish Armed Forces' press releases state that the investment is being carried out within the framework of the 2024 Defence Decision, under which brigade air defence is to receive enhanced 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 combat group. This forthcoming delivery of air defence systems strengthens the brigades and our integration into NATO's air and missile defence," says Commodore Bo Berg, Acting Head of the Implementation Unit at the Defence Staff, in the agency's press release.
In connection with the government's decision, Saab announced 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 kronor. The order includes, among other things, the Air Defence Command Support System (LSS Lv), the Giraffe 1X radar, integration of effector systems, studies, and spare parts.
"We are immensely proud to contribute to an enhanced air defence capability for the Swedish Army's brigades. The order provides expanded capability to both command, detect, and engage airborne threats through world-class command systems and sensors," says Carl-Johan Bergholm, Head of Saab's Surveillance business area, in the press release.
The government's decision builds on earlier investments made during the year, which have included the procurement of CAMM missiles, counter-drone systems, and the medium-range IRIS-T SLM system. According to the government, orders worth more than 20 billion kronor have been placed over the past six months to strengthen Sweden's air defence capability.
