The Swedish government is allocating five billion kronor which, according to the press release, will modernise the Swedish Armed Forces' (Försvarsmakten) warfare capabilities using artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and cloud solutions. The investment is intended to enable real-time information sharing between soldiers, units, and NATO allies.
The government states that the funds are drawn from the 2025 authorisation of 25 billion kronor for opportunistic procurement. The investment is intended to accelerate decision-making processes, for example reducing the time from enemy detection to engagement from hours to minutes. The introduction of new technology and new tools is also said to be expedited by between one and two years.
"Ukraine demonstrates how decisive speed, data, and digital command are in modern warfare. With this investment, we are strengthening the Swedish Armed Forces' ability to detect, make decisions, and engage an adversary more rapidly. The fact that Swedish companies are at the forefront of areas including 5G and cloud technology is a strategic asset for Sweden, the Swedish Armed Forces, and NATO as a whole," says Pål Jonson, Minister for Defence, in the press release.
According to the government, the five billion kronor is distributed as follows: approximately 2.5 billion kronor will go towards command and control systems and AI models, approximately one billion kronor towards a Swedish cloud for sensitive data with AI integration, and 1.5 billion kronor towards 5G, satellite links, networks, and cryptography. The investment includes, among other things, air-gapped cloud solutions, reinforced 5G networks in northern Sweden, and mobile 5G masts.
The government states that Ukraine's defence against Russia's invasion demonstrates that information sharing between soldiers on the battlefield, command leadership, and allies needs to occur more rapidly. The Swedish cloud is described as inspired by the Ukrainian Delta system.