Will Russia attack another country? Swedes speak frankly
"There is potential for a Russian military attack on another country. Consequently, it is essential to significantly bolster our air defense," stated the supreme commander of the Swedish armed forces in his recommendations presented to the government in Stockholm on Monday.
11:02 AM EST, November 7, 2023
The submitted document is set as a guide for decision-making by Swedish authorities concerning military expenditures and defense strategy spanning from 2025 through 2035. This includes the period subsequent to Sweden's accession to NATO.
General Micael Byden, the supreme commander of the Swedish armed forces, underscored that "despite the severe losses Russia suffered following its invasion of Ukraine, only a portion of the Russian army is war-affected. The Russians still maintain a sizable portion of their navy, air force, and strategic nuclear forces".
Byden supplemented that "the inclusion of Sweden in NATO implicates that Sweden will partake in deterrence and defense endeavors against military invasions, even those occurring outside of the country's borders".
Sweden to prepare two brigades
In the proposals put forth by the supreme commander of the Swedish armed forces, "ambitious modifications" were suggested, tied to a heightened focus on air defense. The military plans to invest in drone technology and defense measures against unmanned airborne devices.
A significant priority is to ready two army brigades for engagement in NATO's preliminary ground operations. Another crucial component involves the enhancement of logistics to enable Sweden to function as a base and conveyance zone for allied units. It is also necessary for the Swedish armed forces to optimize interoperability, as they become a part of NATO's command system.
The report suggests, among other things, raising the number of conscripts to 10,000 soldiers annually by the year 2030. This objective is aimed at facilitating the growth of the professional army. However, the armed forces caution against establishing additional organizational units in the short term, asserting that it's more critical to amplify existing units' capabilities and adequately equip them militarily.
$11.31 billion allotted for the armed forces
In September, the Swedish government declared the largest uplift in defense spending in history for the 2024 budget, aiming to meet the NATO requirement of 2% of GDP allocated to armament.
The Swedish armed forces' budget is projected to reach 119 billion kronor (approximately $11.31 billion) next year. This constitutes the most significant increment ever, a boost of 27 billion kronor (around $2.62 billion - a 28% rise) compared to 2023. These funds aim to facilitate continued investment in arms, including artillery systems, transport aircraft, and ships, and to promote further development and production of Gripen JAS 39E aircraft and Blekinge submarines.
