In a move reflecting growing security concerns in Northern Europe, Swedish Defense Minister Päl Jonsson announced on Monday a new military investment plan aimed at radically bolstering the country's defense capabilities. The plan includes an investment of 4 billion Swedish kronor (approximately €374 million) to purchase an advanced fleet of drones for the armed forces. Jonsson emphasized the need for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its national security and for supporting Ukraine in light of current geopolitical developments.
Deal details and technical capabilities
Minister Johnson explained that this strategic investment is not limited to a single type of aircraft, but includes a diverse range of advanced reconnaissance drones and electronic warfare systems, as well as long-range "cruising munitions," known militarily as "suicide drones." He added that the package also includes bolstering the navy with specialized drones for mine clearance and maritime surveillance, and Sweden is expected to receive all these defense systems within two years.
Investment in space and air defense
In parallel with the drone deal, Stockholm announced an allocation of 1.3 billion kroner (approximately €121.5 million) to bolster its space capabilities. This move aims to launch ten new military satellites, which will play a pivotal role in increasing the accuracy and effectiveness of drone systems and cruise missiles. This announcement comes just one day after Sweden revealed another substantial investment of 15 billion kroner (approximately €1.4 billion) to strengthen its land-based air defenses, including the acquisition of IRIS-T missiles last November.
Context of the historical transformation and Sweden's accession to NATO
These accelerated military moves come in the context of a historic shift in Swedish defense doctrine. After two centuries of military neutrality and non-alignment, Sweden abandoned this policy and formally joined NATO in March 2014, as a direct response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war in Ukraine demonstrated the critical importance of drones in modern warfare, whether for reconnaissance, artillery guidance, or carrying out precision strikes at low cost—a lesson Sweden seeks to apply to strengthen the alliance's northern flank.
Concerns about Russia and American volatility
In his address at the annual defense forum, Johnson expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in the region compared to the previous year. He clearly indicated that the growing threat from Russia was not the only factor, but was compounded by “increasing unpredictability of US behavior,” implicitly referring to political infighting in Washington and the potential shift in US policy toward NATO. The Secretary concluded with a crucial point: “Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security and the security of Ukraine,” to ensure regional stability without relying entirely on its American ally.
