Sweden will increase its armed forces by around 27,000 men and women by 2030, including professional soldiers and conscripts, as the country increases military spending, the country’s government said on Tuesday.
The center-right coalition said last month it would spend an extra 170 billion Swedish crowns ($16.41 billion) on top of the annual budget over the next five years, raising military spending to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2028, up from 2, 2 percent this year.
Defense Minister Pal Jonson said that the bill will help build better endurance and that it must happen quickly for NATO’s newest member.
“We must be able to respond more strongly and efficiently to the changes taking place in our environment, above all to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he said at the press conference.
In September, the government announced that next year it will increase defense allocations by ten percent to 138 billion crowns, which is equal to 2.4 percent of GDP.
The Navy will upgrade its five Visby-class corvettes and equip them with anti-aircraft defense systems, and will also begin procurement of three larger Lulea-class corvettes.
The Air Force will receive three more Globaleye reconnaissance aircraft and a newer version of JAS Gripen fighter jets, as well as Black Hawk helicopters.
The army will add more tanks and armored vehicles, more drones and additional Archer air defense systems, the government said, according to Reuters.
