STOCKHOLM, 14 January. - (ANA) - The Government has decided that the Swedish Armed Forces will expand its air defence capability. The Swedish Armed Forces will produce, train and equip a number of units within a future ground-based air defence that will protect combat units, military defence mobilisation capacity, population centres and civilian infrastructure. The total investment is worth approximately SEK 15 billion.

 

Experience from Ukraine demonstrates the importance of a robust air defence. The Government has previously committed substantial resources to air defence, and will now commit even more.

 

"Sweden is facing the most serious security situation in modern times. With this broad investment in air defence, we are protecting the whole of society, from our military units to urban areas and critical infrastructure. It is a matter of people's lives, our freedom and our ability to withstand attacks in all parts of the country," says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

 

"Experience from the war in Ukraine clearly demonstrates the crucial importance of a robust and resilient air defence. By building up ground-based air defence units, we are adding to the existing air defence and strengthening protection of combat unit mobilisation. This will raise the threshold for attacks, enhance Sweden's defensive capabilities and contribute to NATO's collective deterrence and defence," says Minister for Defence Pål Jonson.

 

"Protecting the civilian population and the functioning of society is a key part of our total defence. The ground-based air defence will create better conditions to protect urban areas, infrastructure and essential public services from airborne threats. Alongside measures such as protective shelters, redundancy, and repair preparedness, this will increase society's resilience in crisis and war," says Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

 

 

 

 

Previously, the primary task of air defence has been to protect our own military units and military infrastructure. Now the Government is taking this further by building a ground-based air defence capability to provide enhanced protection of combat units, including military defence mobilisation, with the possibility to protect population centres and civilian infrastructure.

 

The investment in ground-based air defence units is worth approximately SEK 15 billion. The ground-based air defence will primarily:

 

- have short-range protection capability;

- consist of a number of standalone units, each in the size of a company;

- comprise robust systems that are modular, allowing different types of weapons, sensor and technical systems to be combined, e.g. different anti-aircraft artillery and radar systems;

- be deployable or tied to specific geographical areas;

- create possibilities to protect civilian objects such as bridges, railway nodes, critical infrastructure such as nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, and population centres.

 

An initial industrial order is planned for the first quarter of 2026. Additional procurements will follow successively.

 

 

 

The Government previously decided to invest almost SEK 40 billion in air defence procurement.

 

 

 

New mid-and short range air defence systems SEK 22.5 bn

New portable short-range air defence systems SEK 3.8 bn

Additional surface-air missiles (Patriot) SEK 7.5 bn

Anti-drone capability (incl. electronic warfare) SEK 3.6 bn

In addition, the Swedish Visby-class corvettes and upcoming Luleå-class vessels will be equipped with air defence systems. Major investments have also been made in airborne radar systems enabling early detection of threats.

 

The Government has also previously tasked the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (previously known as the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) and the Swedish Armed Forces with jointly assessing how to protect population centres and civilian infrastructure from airborne threats. They are to look at current protection and existing needs for protection against airborne threats.

 

The Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency and the Swedish Armed Forces will present proposals for protective measures with a focus on both active measures (combating airborne threats) and passive/defensive measures (e.g. protective shelters, masks and repair preparedness).

 

Their report will be presented on 16 February 2026.   - (ANA) -

 

 

AB/ANA/13 January 2026 - - -