The government has revealed plans for investing in the spring amendment budget, which will enable continued growth of military defense and prepare for eventual membership in NATO. The proposed increases in allocations for the 2023 spring amendment budget amount to a total of SEK 660 million, while order authorizations for the Armed Forces see a total increase of SEK 16.78 billion.
The government acknowledges the vital importance of ensuring Sweden’s defense and security, especially considering the ongoing unrest in Europe and the possibility of potential armed attacks on Swedish soil. As such, the spring amendment budget that will be presented on April 17 will put forward measures aimed at strengthening national defense and preparing for Swedish NATO membership.
Included in these measures are enhancements to the management area, such as strengthening the functionality of the Armed Forces’ strategic network and early warning system. These enhancements will improve the country’s joint operational capabilities both domestically and internationally. The government also intends to support combat aviation through upgrading JAS 39 C/D parallel with JAS 39 E after 2030, and by enabling concept studies for future fighter capabilities.
The increased additions and ordering authorizations for the armed forces will also allow for preparations for membership in NATO. This will involve strengthening command support systems interoperable with NATO, investing in infrastructure and fuel reserves, and preparing for joint air and robotic defense with NATO. Additionally, the government will provide funds to finance fees for CIV/MIL budgets and the NATO Security Investment Program.
The proposals for the spring amendment budget are the result of an agreement between the government and the Sweden Democrats and will be presented to the Riksdag shortly.
The government has today presented proposals for investment in the spring amendment budget, which will, among other things, create the conditions for continued growth of the military defense and prepare for membership in NATO. In the spring amendment budget for 2023, increased allocations of a total of SEK 660 million are proposed. In addition to that, order authorizations at the Armed Forces are increased by a total of SEK 16.78 billion.
Sweden’s defense and security is an important priority for the government. There is a war going on in Europe and an armed attack on Sweden cannot be ruled out. The government is therefore acting to strengthen Sweden’s security. The spring amendment budget that the government will present on April 17 includes strengthening of the national defense and preparations for Swedish NATO membership.
Conditions for continued growth of the defence
The government’s proposal includes measures to strengthen the management area, including by strengthening the functionality of the Armed Forces’ strategic network and early warning system. The measures in the management area are made to increase Sweden’s ability for joint operations nationally and internationally.
Furthermore, the government’s proposal in the spring amendment budget contains measures that include combat aviation. JAS 39 C/D must be operated in parallel with JAS 39 E after 2030. JAS 39 C/D therefore needs to be upgraded to remain operationally relevant during its lifetime. To make this possible, the agreed delivery times and functional requirements in the existing agreement for JAS 39 E need to be adapted to the new overall picture of needs. Furthermore, concept studies for future fighter capabilities are enabled.
Preparations for membership in NATO
The armed forces’ increased additions and ordering authorizations also enable preparations for Sweden’s membership in NATO. The preparations include, among other things, strengthening of command support systems that are interoperable with NATO’s, investments in infrastructure and the acquisition of fuel reserves, and measures to connect to NATO’s joint air and robotic defense.
In addition, the government provides funds to finance fees to NATO. The preparations for membership in NATO also concern, among other things, contributions to the civilian budget, the military budget and to the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP).
The government intends to submit the proposals, which are based on an agreement between the government and the Sweden Democrats, to the Riksdag in the upcoming spring amendment budget.