Sweden has been formally welcomed as Nato’s 32nd member, ending two centuries of neutrality for the Scandinavian nation.
Stockholm applied for membership of the alliance three months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, finally gaining entry after months of political haggling, mainly involving Turkey.
Forces News now looks at what Sweden brings to the Nato table.
Geography and economy
Sweden’s key geographical position would allow Nato forces to quickly reinforce Norway and Finland.
It also has a highly developed defence industry – a major asset as Nato tries to rearm.
Military size
Sweden’s armed forces are comparatively small, with 14,850 regular personnel, supplemented by 11,450 reservists.
It has conscription – reintroduced in 2018 – but it is small and selective, with only around 4,000 men and women called up.
Army
Sweden’s army has 6,850 soldiers, but it is well equipped. It has 110 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, 319 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and 26 Archer self-propelled howitzers.
Archer is the Swedish-designed rapid-fire artillery system that the British Army is also buying. It can engage a target, open fire and then drive away in less than 20 seconds.
Navy
Sweden’s navy is regarded as small but very capable – bigger than every other Baltic navy except Germany’s – and tends to operate exclusively in the Baltic Sea and along the country’s west coast.
It has 2,350 naval personnel – half are sailors, half are amphibious forces – and its maritime equipment includes four submarines, five corvettes and seven mine warfare ships.
Sweden’s Gotland-class submarines have a unique engine that uses the power generated by expanding and contracting gases to drive the sub’s systems.
It makes them particularly quiet and means they do not have to surface for weeks.
Air Force
Sweden will also bring its impressive air force to the alliance, which includes 2,700 air force personnel and six squadrons of Gripen multi-role fighter jets, produced by Swedish manufacturer Saab.
Sweden’s air force operates 96 Gripens, including a few of the newer E model with upgraded avionics and sensor systems. It will eventually receive 60 of this newer aircraft.
The Gripen is considered one of the world’s most capable fourth-generation fighters and can carry six air-to-air missiles – the same as the F-35.
It is also able to fire the Meteor air-to-air missile, which is faster and has more range than the AIM-120 used on many American aircraft.
Sweden also has a highly regarded Special Operations Group.
Despite its relatively small size, Sweden’s military is very capable, with huge experience of the Baltic region.
By joining Nato, Sweden has left behind 200 years of neutrality and non-alignment.
Its membership is hugely symbolic and militarily important – another brick in the Western wall against Vladimir Putin’s territorial ambitions.
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via IFTTT March 13, 2024 at 10:04AM See all posts in full – click here https://jcsnavyandmilitarynews.blogspot.com/