Sweden Armén / Swedish Army - Modernization
The availability of the right materiel at the right time is a must for the Armed Forces' ability to carry out national and international operations. Research and development, R&D, within the Armed Forces focuses on two areas - building knowledge and delivering the results to task forces and units that produce equipment. The knowledge that is generated must give the Armed Forces the basis it needs to make decisions about what the threat picture looks like and develops in a certain situation. It is also important for determining what countermeasures are needed in the form of materiel and tactical behavior, as well as for clarifying what conscious risks the authority is taking.
The research within the Armed Forces is of high quality and is an important part of Sweden's exchange of information and knowledge with other countries and organizations, a collaboration that only becomes more important over time.
The transfer of research results to the intervention organization can be done in the form of, for example, studies of new concepts for strategy or logistics management, but also of fully developed technology such as termite lances for neutralizing sea mines. Most of the technology development is long-term and normally only a small part of it will be useful within the first year.
Development of materiel and technology is governed by the decisions regarding the Armed Forces' capabilities made by the Riksdag and the Government. Based on these, the Armed Forces form a long-term development plan and a more concrete materiel plan. The plans include the equipment needed for the Armed Forces' units to be able to maintain and develop their capabilities.
The Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) agree on the properties of the materiel and on finances. Thereafter, FMV is given the task of procuring and delivering said material. All procurement takes place in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, which normally means that the procurement takes place in competition between several suppliers. After delivery control of new equipment at FMV, it is delivered to the units.
Development of new military equipment is expensive and time consuming. An important endeavor is therefore to identify collaboration opportunities as early as possible, if possible already at the research and development stage. Several European countries have joined forces in various projects to learn from each other and to reduce the costs of development and acquisition. It is also of Swedish interest to participate in the restructuring of the European defense industry.
The Swedish Armed Forces' participation in international operations places increased demands on the ability to function effectively together with others. This, too, in combination with greater demands on cost efficiency, entails a need for greater international materiel cooperation.
The Swedish Armed Forces' logistics (FMLOG) destroys / recycles surpluses that are not suitable for donating or selling. FMLOG solves this with the support of the framework agreements they have procured nationally. In this way, it is ensured that laws and regulations are complied with and that the companies in question have knowledge of the environment that guarantees that the Armed Forces contributes to a sustainable cycle.
The period 2014 to 2021 was marked by the introduction of the new ARCHER artillery system, the turnover of vehicles both shrapnel-protected and unprotected, and the renovation of the Strv 122 and Combat Vehicles 90 tank system. Development of ground defences and the acquisition of a new firearms family began.
The Archer system forms the basis of the indirect fire capability of the intervention organisation and was delivered in 2012-2014. The battalion artillery's basic armament consists of 8 cm mortars being renovated. Existing 12 cm mortars were maintained. Long-range precision ammunition – EXCALIBUR – is developed in collaboration with the US and delivered in the period Replacement of mortar ammunition began. Acquisitions was then be completed from 2016. Study on course correcting ignition pipes began. Artillery location radar (ARTHUR) was renovated in collaboration with Norway.
The Army extended the Leopard 2 system life until at least 2030. RENO [renovation] was carried out on 48-56 pcs. Strv 122 and at least 8 pcs. Bgbv 120. In order to enable the operation of vehicles after the completion of the RENO, replacement units and spare equipment for at least three years of training/peace operation shall be procured. The renovation was carried out in two stages in 2015-2017 and 2018-2020.
The Armed Forces submitted the budget documentation for 2022 to the government 26 February 2021. On the materiel side, the army aims, among other things, to introduce the American air defense system Patriot and a new anti-tank robot system for the motorized shooting battalions. In addition, a new firearm will be developed for the soldiers and a new unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance missions. Within the army, more military units will also be introduced in the form of another mechanized brigade, a battle group in the Mälardalen valley and a Norrland hunter battalion.
The introduction of Patriot is an important part of the Swedish Armed Forces' growth going forward. With the introduction, Sweden's air defense capabilities increase significantly. The contract to buy the Patriot anti-aircraft system was signed in August 2018, and by June 2021 the project had reached the point where equipment was starting to be delivered to Sweden. Försvarets materielverk [FmV] received the deliveries but it was not until later in 2021 that they were handed over to the Swedish Armed Forces. Before this can be done, the equipment must be checked and functionally tested.
There are many components in Sweden's new and advanced Anti-Aircraft System 103, Patriot. These include launchers, missiles and fire line radar from the US, trucks from Germany and radio link systems from Sweden. All the different parts are now delivered to FMV's project office where everything will be put together into a working whole.
Sweden decided to request an offer for the Patriot system in November 2017 and in August 2018 an agreement was signed for 4 units and 12 launchers to form 2 battalions. No follow up orders are to be made. The initial cost was to be around 10 Billion SEK but the price is deemed much higher and is now classified.
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