Sweden to spend SEK4bn ($437m) on new military drone systems

Sweden to spend SEK4bn ($437m) on new military drone systems
Reuters

Sweden will spend 4 billion crowns on unmanned drone systems to be delivered over the next two years, Defence Minister Pal Jonson revealed on Monday.

Speaking at Sweden’s annual defence conference in Salen, Jonson said the NATO member would acquire a range of unmanned systems, including long range attack drones, electronic warfare platforms, surveillance drones, as well as marine surveillance and minesweeping drones.

“No one knows what the next war will look like but one thing is clear, the future battlefield will be characterised by unmanned systems and long range capacity,” Jonson said, adding that those who fail to adapt risk defeat.

The government will also invest a further 1.3 billion crowns in new military satellites, according to Jonson.

Sweden, a member of the European Union, formally joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization in March 2024 and has steadily increased defence spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In addition, the Swedish government is borrowing 300 billion crowns to accelerate the procurement of new equipment, including air defence systems, submarines and surface ships.

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