Week 14 of 2026 was marked by major materiel investments, new NATO structures and industrial acquisitions across the Nordic region. Sweden, Norway and Finland were at the centre of several of the week's most significant defence news stories, while the EU presented a new innovation programme and space cooperation was deepened.

Domains

Naval

  • The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has placed a supplementary order for additional modular autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) from Teledyne Gavia. The agreement was signed during the Navy Tech conference in Gothenburg (western Sweden). The number of vehicles ordered has not been specified. Read more
  • Norwegian Forsvarsmateriell (FMA), the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, has awarded a contract to a consortium comprising Salt Ship Design and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for the design of a new standardised vessel class for the Norwegian Navy and Coast Guard. The vessel class is planned in two sizes: ocean-going and coastal. Construction contracts are expected from 2027, with first delivery in 2030. Read more

Air

  • The Finnish Air Force has announced that the first F-35 aircraft will arrive in Finland in autumn 2026 and will be stationed at the Lapland Air Command in Rovaniemi (northern Finland). Approximately 150 military personnel are already undergoing training in the United States. Full operational capability is planned for the end of 2030. Read more
  • Finnish defence technology company Sensofusion has acquired Atol Aviation, Finland's only aircraft manufacturer, to strengthen its capability to develop airborne systems for drone detection and signals intelligence. Operations are conducted at a former air base in Jämsä (southern Finland). Read more

Land

  • Sweden is investing 8.7 billion SEK in the new air defence system GUTE II. Agreements have been signed with, among others, BAE Systems Bofors, Saab, SISU and Nammo. The system encompasses command and control systems, sensors, electronic warfare systems, ammunition and vehicles, with deliveries planned for 2027 to 2028. Read more
  • Finnish company Varjo and Norwegian company Fynd Reality are delivering an extended reality (XR) training system worth 82.5 million Norwegian kroner to Ukraine's armed forces. The system, funded through Norway's Nansen programme, enables virtual training on military vehicles and is already in use in Ukraine. Read more
  • The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) have introduced new binocular image intensifiers of the Bino-25 type across several units. The procurement has been driven by the air base rangers, and the equipment has already been used in Greenland and Iceland. Read more

Space

  • The Swedish government is proposing 400 million SEK for Swedish space activities in the spring supplementary budget, of which 386 million SEK will go to SSC Space AB to strengthen launch capability at Esrange Space Center (northern Sweden). The Swedish National Space Agency will receive 14 million SEK. Read more
  • The EU has signed a cooperation agreement with Norway and Iceland, granting the countries access to the satellite programmes GOVSATCOM and IRIS², including for secure communications in crisis and emergency situations. Read more

Policy & Strategy

  • The Swedish government has commissioned an inquiry to analyse how conscripts can be utilised within NATO's deterrence and defence framework. Any proposed legislative amendments are to be presented no later than 26 April 2027. Read more
  • Sweden will host NATO's foreign ministers' meeting on 21 to 22 May 2026 in Helsingborg (southern Sweden), the first time since the country joined the Alliance in March 2024. Both Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have commented on the meeting. Read more
  • Finland is establishing a new NATO unit, a so-called Deployable CIS Module (DCM), in Riihimäki (southern Finland), with a planned start in early 2027. The unit will be staffed by approximately 60 Finnish personnel and will provide communications and IT support to NATO forces in Finland and northern Europe. Read more
  • The Norwegian government is adding a further 115 billion Norwegian kroner to the long-term defence plan through to 2036, of which 31 billion will be allocated before 2030. The planning period is proposed to be extended to 2040. The investment is motivated by a deteriorating security environment and lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. Read more

Industry

  • Defensor Group has appointed Niclas Colliander, a former combat pilot and Chief Executive of Metrea Simulations, as its new Chief Executive Officer and Group President from 1 April 2026. Outgoing Chief Executive Max Jägerbring will remain within the group as Chief Business Officer. Read more
  • Finnish company Kesla Oyj has received a defence order worth approximately 17 million euros from a NATO member state for its Kerberos system. Delivery is planned for 2026 to 2027 and includes maintenance and training. The purchasing country and number of units are being kept confidential. Read more
  • The European Commission is launching the AGILE funding programme, worth 115 million euros, to accelerate the development of defence technology. The programme targets small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, with a focus on areas including artificial intelligence, quantum technology and drones. Read more

Taken together, week 14 demonstrates a broad and accelerating defence commitment across the Nordic region and Europe, spanning major national materiel investments and new NATO structures through to industrial acquisitions and EU-funded innovation. Further announcements regarding ongoing procurements and alliance cooperation are expected next week.