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.

• Sweden’s flag raised in Brussels as country becomes 32nd member of Nato
• How Sweden’s military compares to the UK’s ahead of long-awaited Nato accession
• Sweden’s silent Gotland class submarines tailor-made for protecting Baltic Sea

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.

Military drivers have been hitting some BASS notes as they learn to operate the BV 206, a tracked, articulated utility vehicle, in the Arctic region of Norway.

BASS – Brake, Acceleration, Speed and Steering – are the fundamentals they need to learn when taking on the snow and ice in an all-terrain amphibious vehicle like this.

“Watch you don’t do too much of any of those things and you should be good,” Corporal Andy Flanagan, an instructor and logistics driver from the RAF’s Tactical Wing, told Forces News.

His role is to provide driver training for all ranks from all three services – teaching them how to handle the snow and ice, as well as operate the BV 206 tracked all-terrain amphibious vehicle in winter conditions.

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Cpl  Flanagan explained how one particular challenge that comes with driving the BV 206 in an Artic setting is the fact that it has tracks rather than wheels.

“It makes a huge difference in how to handle it, the tracks make it much easier for the centrifuge force to throw the vehicle sideways,” he said.

“If you’re in a turn, if the vehicle wants to go sideways then it will do a lot easier, there’s a lot more to think about when operating a BV.”

Making full use of the Armed Forces’ safe training space in Norway, Cpl Flanagan said it was crucial to push the principles of BASS.

“They can feel what it feels like to get themselves in a situation they don’t want to be in, and also what to do if they do get in that situation,” he said of the trainee drivers.

“It means they are less likely to flap if they do get themselves in a situation.”

The Course

Run by Commando Helicopter Force on behalf of Joint Helicopter Command, the driver trainees  go through a five-day snow, ice and BV course.

Cpl Flanagan that they are fairly full days, but the trainees generally enjoy the opportunity.

He added: “We also go out on training area and do off-roading as well… and out and about on public roads and see a bit more of Norway.”

They also learn how to tackle ice crossing, and the driver course is available for support vehicles and Land Rovers as well.