Sweden’s government announced Thursday that it was investing more than $900 million in air and drone defense capabilities.
The investment would cover multiple systems, including radar and anti-aircraft weapons, as well as electronic warfare platforms.
The 8.7 billion kronor ($916 million) package accounted for more than half of a cash injection for air defenses announced in January.
Defence Minister Pal Jonson said in a statement that it was “more important than ever to invest in air defense capabilities,” which was true for all countries in the NATO military alliance.
“NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that we will need to see an increase of more than 400 percent in air defense capabilities within the NATO alliance,” Jonson later told AFP.
The government said it had signed deals with manufacturers, including Sweden’s Saab and BAE Systems Bofors, a Swedish subsidiary of the UK’s BAE Systems.
Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2027, which Jonson noted was “relatively fast” in an environment where Europe’s defense industry is facing pressure to keep up with demand.
This week, US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with NATO – which he has long railed against – and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the United States was “going to have to reexamine” its relationship with the alliance.
Jonson said he did not see the US as intending to leave the alliance, but that it was clear Europe needed to shoulder a greater defense burden.
“The obvious answer to that is that Europe must take much greater responsibility for its own security by investing heavily in its armed forces,” Jonson said.
