The governing center-right coalition want the Swedish army to be twice as large as it is today – and to achieve this, German tanks will be purchased for billions.
– This is an absolutely necessary investment, says Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M).
At the end of last year, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a contract with German weapons manufacturer KNDS to purchase 44 new Leopard 2 A8 tanks.
The Germans will also be tasked with modernizing 66 of the Swedish Armed Forces’ tanks from the 1990s and refurbishing a number of other combat vehicles – the total bill is expected to reach SEK 22 billion (€1.9 billion).
– These tanks are among the most modern on the market. This is a major increase in capability for the ground forces, says FMV’s Director General Göran Mårtensson, to state television SVT.
According to Defense Minister Jonson, the order is a must “in order for us to achieve the high goals that politics has set for the Armed Forces and FMV“.
“A stronger army”
– These are high goals, but they must be high goals in the serious international situation we have right now, he adds, and is most unhappy that the investment has not been made earlier.
– With this order, we will have a stronger army, stronger brigades and a better ability to face a qualified opponent, he says.
Once the deliveries have been completed, Sweden will have a total of 154 modern tanks – compared to 110 today. And they will be equipped with longer fire tubes and more digital functions than previous models.
It is not clear, however, why politicians are choosing to spend billions of taxpayers’ money on buying weapons from foreign companies instead of investing in and building up domestic production.
