The queues of European countries wanting to buy weapons and ammunition from the defense industry are growing, but Sweden is still doing well.
The buildup we have is following plan, both in terms of direction and delivery times, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).
Between 2022 and 2024, the government has made decisions on the procurement of defense equipment for 254 billion kronor. For example, ammunition, including for artillery, and robots for 60 billion and tanks, combat vehicles, and armored terrain vehicles for 48 billion.
The Defense Materiel Administration, FMV, has in turn placed orders for 120 billion kronor during the same period.
This is naturally historic levels, says FMV's General Director Göran Mårtensson.
We are trying to go out and place orders as quickly as possible so that we don't end up last in line, and we have succeeded well with that.
Must be replaced
But what will happen with delivery times and price increases in the future, Mårtensson dare not predict.
He notes that the need for equipment and ammunition has increased dramatically in the short term in the Western world.
All countries now want to increase their own stockpiles, build up stockpiles of ammunition, missiles, and so on. But also develop their own combat forces, which also leads to orders.
In addition, the support to Ukraine affects this. States both order equipment directly to the war-torn country and donate from their own stockpiles, which must be replaced.
Often too late
Both Jonson and Mårtensson emphasize that both the state and industry have a great responsibility to increase production capacity to speed up delivery times and keep price increases down.
History has shown that one often starts the buildup too late, says Pål Jonson.
We want to avoid that. Both by starting this journey earlier, but also by being ready to take new measures to get production of defense equipment up.
The state takes its responsibility, among other things, by placing larger and longer orders together with other nations. This becomes an incentive for industry to dare to invest in production capacity increases, according to FMV's General Director.
Then it is important in Europe to become more efficient and standardize defense equipment and reduce national special requirements, in order to save time and money and streamline production, says Göran Mårtensson.
Total 254 billion, of which:
60 billion: Ammunition and robots
48 billion: Tanks, combat vehicles, and armored terrain vehicles
27 billion: Fighter jets
22 billion: Air defense
15 billion: Personal equipment for soldiers
8 billion: Artillery
7 billion: Modernization of warships, primarily air defense
Source: Ministry of Defense
