Minister of Defense Pål Jonsson confirms that Sweden is investing SEK 5 billion (€430 million) to acquire more missiles for the Patriot air defense system.
The investment is being made together with several other NATO countries and in total it involves more than 1000 missiles to be produced on European soil.
– It is an experience from the war in Ukraine, that a lot of Patriot missiles are needed as Russia has both ballistic missiles, fighter jets and cruise missiles, says Jonson to Telia-owned TV4.
– The other thing that is new is that the production will take place in Europe, it is good that there are more places where these missiles are produced, he continues.
According to the Minister of Defense, the European defense industry must be strengthened and that Sweden and other NATO countries will spend a total of €5.2 billion on the project.
The US air defense system is already used by the Swedish military, but previously the missiles were manufactured in the United States and then exported to Sweden, which was cumbersome.
– We are joining forces with other countries, so we can push down prices and ensure that we get more missiles, says the minister.
More money for the military
Pål Jonsson believes that Europe must increase military armament and that it is “not sustainable” that the United States “accounts for two-thirds of defense investments in the Euro-Atlantic area”.
Sweden currently spends 2.2% of GDP on defense – but that figure will rise to 2.4% next year, with further increases expected in the coming years.
Although Jonsson is lyrical about the European Patriot cooperation, critics say the system is far too expensive and relatively old – having been launched in the early 1980s.
During the current war, US Patriot systems have also been delivered to Ukraine, and Russia has also managed to destroy several weapons systems of this type on several occasions.
