In what would constitute the 21st time this has occurred, Sweden has presented a new military aid package worth more than US$1.4 billion aimed at strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which it has been stated will be primarily focused on air defense, unmanned systems, and long-range strike capabilities. The news was confirmed on February 19 by the Nordic country’s Minister of Defense, Pål Jonson, who detailed the specifics of the package on his social media accounts.
Expanding on the latter, it can be mentioned that the main investment included in the package is aimed at the purchase of long-range aerial drones and naval drones, as well as associated innovation projects and international procurement funds; more than US$620 million will be allocated for this purpose. Secondly, Stockholm will allocate an additional US$470 million for the incorporation of short-range air defense systems, sensors, electronic warfare elements, and command components to coordinate their use within networks that protect civilian infrastructure. Lastly, another US$330 million would be allocated for the purchase of long-range artillery ammunition, in addition to items associated with the maintenance of platforms previously donated.
In this regard, it is worth recalling that Sweden had already announced earlier this month its partnership with Denmark to carry out the donation of new Tridon Mk2 anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, which would be used especially against waves of Russian drone attacks targeting critical infrastructure. In particular, Copenhagen contributed more than 300 million Danish kroner to make this possible, which translates not only into the delivery of the new systems but also into ammunition and various types of spare parts necessary to sustain them in service over time.
In addition, it is useful to recall that Sweden also contributes to the Ukrainian war effort through the training of the first pilots who would take control of an important fleet of up to 150 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighters that the Ukrainian Air Force hopes to incorporate, thus reinforcing the capabilities represented by its F-16 Fighting Falcon of U.S. origin and the Dassault Mirage 2000-5 of French design. As we reported in December, the first Ukrainian cohort is already in Swedish territory training on the most advanced variant of the aircraft, which stands out for the large number of Western weapons it can deploy and for its ability to operate from austere conditions.
Finally, and along the same lines, it should be mentioned that the Swedish and Ukrainian defense ministries have also held meetings to define the possibility of equipping the aforementioned fighters with MBDA Meteor air-to-air missiles. According to official communications from Kyiv, this is a “key tool” to counter the air assets deployed by Russia, which have already placed considerable strain on the country’s air defenses.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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