 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2022) |
| Swedish Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Försvarsmakten | |
 Armed Forces' coat of arms | |
 War flag and Naval Ensign of Sweden | |
| Founded | 1521; 504 years ago (1521) |
| Current form | 1975; 50 years ago (1975) |
| Service branches | |
| Headquarters | Stockholm |
| Website | forsvarsmakten |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Government (Kristersson cabinet) |
| Minister of Defence |  Pål Jonson |
| Chief of Defence |  GenMichael Claesson |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18–47[1] |
| Conscription | Yes[2][3][4] |
| Active personnel | 25,600,[5] 88,000 (total during wartime) 130,000 (total wartime goal 2035)[6][7] |
| Reserve personnel | 34,000 (Home guard, part time & reserve officers[5] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | 148 billion SEK, about $16 billion(2025)[8][9] |
| Percent of GDP | 2.4%(2025)[10](2025)[11] |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | BAE Systems AB Saab AB Saab Bofors Dynamics Saab Kockums |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Sweden |
| Ranks | Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces |
TheSwedish Armed Forces (Swedish:Försvarsmaktenⓘ, literally TheDefence Force) are thearmed forces of theKingdom of Sweden. It consists of four separate military branches, theSwedish Army, theSwedish Navy, theSwedish Air Force and theHome Guard.
Sweden's military has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by a rapidly evolving security environment in Europe and its historic decision to join NATO in March 2024.2 This shift has led to substantial increases in defence spending, ambitious personnel expansion plans, and a renewed focus on territorial defence alongside continued international engagement.
The Swedish Armed Forces have a long history, and reached their height in the seventeenth century, during the time of theSwedish Empire, when they participated in a variety of wars; these include theScanian War,Northern War of 1655–1660, andGreat Northern War, among others.[12] Since the nineteenth century, they have also played an important role in the maintenance ofSwedish neutrality, especially during theCold War.
The Swedish Armed Forces consist of 25,600 active personnel, including 9,700 officers, 5,700 enlisted soldiers, and 10,200 civilian employees.[5] Additionally, there are 7,100 reserve officers and 4,700 part-time enlisted soldiers, along with 22,200 soldiers in the Home Guard.[5] As of 2023, 6,300 conscripts undergo military training annually, set to increase to 8,000 by 2025. In wartime, the total personnel is estimated to be 88,000, including all regularly employed personnel, reservists, and conscripts.[6]
Units of the Swedish Armed Forces are currently on or have taken part in several international operations either actively or asmilitary observers, includingAfghanistan as part of theResolute Support Mission and inKosovo (as part ofKosovo Force).[13] Moreover, the Swedish Armed Forces contribute as the leading state for aEuropean Union Battlegroup approximately once every three years through theNordic Battlegroup. Prior to 2024 Sweden had close relations withNATO and NATO members, and participates in training exercises like theAdmiral Pitka Recon Challenge, andExercise Trident Juncture 2018. In 2024, the country formally became a member of NATO.[14] Sweden also has a strong cooperation with its closest allies of theNordic countries, being part of theNordic Defence Cooperation,Joint Expeditionary Force, and joint exercises such as Exercise Northern Wind.
Sweden has not participated in an officially declared war since the1814 Swedish–Norwegian War, although its forces, under theUN flag, have been involved in such conflicts as theCongo Crisis and themilitary intervention in Libya.
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved. Find sources: "Swedish Armed Forces" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The Swedish army has 121 tanks (Leopard 2/Strv 122), roughly 1,540APCs (PatriaXA-360/203/180,RG-32 Scout,Bv410,Bv308/309), 450 IFVs (CV9040), 11,300 utility vehicles (ex.Bv206/208,MB G-Class 6x6 and 4x4,MB sprinter), 84 towed and 40 self-propelled mortar (12 cm grk m/41,grkpbv90) and 26 self-propelled artillery guns (Archer). It also consists of several different specialized vehicles.
The Swedish Navy has a total of 387 ships, including 4submarines (3Gotland, 1Södermanland), 7corvettes (5Visby, 2Gävle), 9minesweepers (5Koster, 4Styrsö), 13 largerpatrol boats (2Stockholm and 11Tapper) and 9 specialised ships with different support duties. The rest is made up of different smaller vessels such as theCB90.
Currently the Swedish Airforce has a total of 210 aircraft, 94 of those beingJAS39C/D Gripen (60 JAS39E on order), 6C130H Hercules (1 with aerial refueling capabilities), 4SAAB 340 (2AEW&C and 2 VIP transport), 4Gulfstream IV (2SIGINT and 2 VIP transport) as well as 15UH-60 Blackhawk, 18NH90 and 20AgustaWestland helicopters. The rest is made up of different transport and trainer aircraft.
The history of the Swedish Armed Forces dates back to the early sixteenth century, when they were founded by the newly crowned monarchGustav I Vasa. Since then, they have played an important role in the history of Sweden; they have been engaged in numerous conflicts since their founding.
It was in the seventeenth century that the Swedish Armed Forces reached their height, during the time of the Swedish Empire. During this time, they were among the leaders in military innovation, and engaged in many wars; among the Swedish wars of the seventeenth century were theThirty Years' War,Second Northern War,Scanian War andGreat Northern War. Themilitary of the Swedish Empire was one of the most important institutions in the empire.[15]
After a period of enhanced readiness duringWorld War I, the Swedish Armed Forces were subject to severe downsizing during the interwar years. WhenWorld War II started, a large rearmament program was launched to once again guard Swedish neutrality, relying on mass maleconscription as a source for personnel.
After World War II, Sweden considered buildingnuclear weapons to deter a Soviet invasion. From 1945 to 1972 the Swedish government rana clandestine nuclear weapons program under the guise of civilian defence research at theSwedish National Defence Research Institute. By the late 1950s, the work had reached the point where underground testing was feasible. However, at that time theRiksdag prohibited research and development of nuclear weapons, pledging that research should be done only for the purpose of defence against nuclear attack. The option to continue development was abandoned in 1966, and Sweden subsequently signed theNon-Proliferation Treaty in 1968; the program was finally concluded in 1972.
During theCold War, the wartime mass conscription system was kept in place to act as a deterrent to theSoviet Union, seen as the greatest military threat to Sweden. The end of the Cold War andthe collapse of the Soviet Union meant that the perceived threat lessened and the armed forces were downsized, with conscription taking in fewer and fewer recruits until it was deactivated in 2010. This small size is often considered one of the major strategic weaknesses of the Swedish Armed Forces.[16]
TheRusso-Georgian War of 2008 and the events in Ukraine in 2014 gradually shifted Swedish debate back in favour of increased defence spending, as concerns grew over Russia's military buildup and intentions. Conscription was reintroduced in 2017 to supplement the insufficient number of volunteers signing up for service. Unlike in the past, the current conscription system applies to both men and women.
Following theUnited Kingdom leaving the European Union in 2020, the EU's mutual defence clause (Lisbon Treaty Article 42.7) ceased to apply to the UK. In 2022, Sweden and the UK signed a mutual security deal, re-pledging support if either state is attacked.[17][18]
On June 29, 2022, Finland and Sweden were formally invited to become members ofNATO,[19] and joined respectively in 2023 and 2024.
The Swedish Armed Forces have four main tasks:[20]
Sweden aims to have the option of remainingneutral in case of proximate war.[21] However, Sweden cooperates militarily with a number of foreign countries. As a member state of theEuropean Union, Sweden is acting as the leading state forEU Battlegroups[22] and also has a close cooperation, including joint exercises, withNATO through its membership inPartnership for Peace andEuro-Atlantic Partnership Council.[23] In 2008 a partnership was initiated between theNordic countries to, among other things, increase the capability of joint action, and this led to the creation of theNordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO).[24][25] As a response to the expanded military cooperation the defence proposition of 2009 stated that Sweden will not remain passive if a Nordic country or a member state of the European Union were attacked.[26]
Recent political decisions have strongly emphasized the capability to participate in international operations, to the point where this has become the main short-term goal of training and equipment acquisition.[27][28][29] However, after the2008 South Ossetia war territorial defence was once again emphasized. Until then most units could not be mobilized within one year. In 2009 the Minister for Defence stated that in the future all of the armed forces must be capable of fully mobilizing within one week.[30]
In 2013, after Russian air exercises in close proximity to the Swedish border were widely reported, only six percent of Swedes expressed confidence in the ability of the nation to defend itself.[31]
Naval Base
Air Base
Infantry Base
Mechanized Infantry Base
Cavalry Base
Artillery Base
Air Defence Base
Engineer Base
TheChief of Defence, formerly the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces (Swedish:Överbefälhavaren, ÖB), is afour-stargeneral orflag officer who is the agency head of the Swedish Armed Forces and the highest ranking professional officer on active duty. The Chief of Defence reports, normally through theMinister of Defence, to theGovernment of Sweden, which in turn answers to theRiksdag. The current chief of defence is GeneralMichael Claesson.[32]
Before the enactment of the1974 Instrument of Government, theKing of Sweden was thede jurecommander in chief (Swedish:högste befälhavare). Since then,KingCarl XVI Gustaf is still considered to hold thehonorary ranks of general and admiralà la suite, but the role is entirely ceremonial.[33]
The Swedish Armed Forces consists of three service branches; theArmy, theAir Force and theNavy, with addition of themilitary reserve forceHome Guard. Since 1994, the first three service branches are organized within a single unified government agency, headed by theChief of Defence, while the Home Guard reports directly to the chief. However, the services maintain their separate identities through the use of different uniforms, ranks, and other service specific traditions.
TheSwedish Armed Forces Headquarters is the highest level of command in the Swedish Armed Forces.[34] It is led by theChief of Defence (formerly the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces) with a civiliandirector-general as his deputy, with functional directorates having different responsibilities (e.g. theMilitary Intelligence and Security Service). Overall, the Armed Forces Headquarters has about 2,100 employees, including civilian personnel.[35][36]
Some of the schools listed below answer to other units, listed under the various branches of the Armed Forces:
Swedish Armed Forces Centre for Defence Medicine (FömedC) located inGothenburg, with a section inLinköping
Swedish Armed Forces Logistics (FMLOG) located in Stockholm,Boden,Karlskrona andArboga
National CBRN Defence Centre (SkyddC) located inUmeåTheNordic Battlegroup is a cooperative formation of the Swedish Armed Forces alongside mainly the otherNordic countries but also some of the Baltic countries as well asIreland, tasked as one of theEU Battlegroups. The headquarter garrison for this group is currently situated inEnköping,Sweden.
Sweden is part of the multinationalKosovo Force and has a naval force deployed to the gulf of Aden as a part ofOperation Atalanta. Militaryobservers from Sweden have been sent to a large number of countries, includingGeorgia,Lebanon,Israel andSri Lanka and Sweden also participates with staff officers to missions inSudan andChad. Sweden has been one of the Peacekeeping nations of theNeutral Nations Supervisory Commission that is tasked with overseeing the truce in theKorean Demilitarized Zone since the Korean war ended in 1953.[39] It was revealed in 2025 that Sweden was assisting theUS in Somalia, primarily in regards to identification of killed and captured terrorists.[40]
Swedish air and ground forces saw combat during theCongo Crisis, as part of theUnited Nations Operation in the Congo force. Nine army battalions were sent in all, and their mission lasted from 1960 to 1964.
A battalion and other units were deployed with the NATO-led peacekeepingSFOR inBosnia and Herzegovina (1996–2000), following theBosnian War. NORDBAT 2 has been studied as an example ofmission command on a chaotic battlefield with conflicting national orders.
Sweden had military forces deployed inAfghanistan with theNATO-ledInternational Security Assistance Force (2002–2014), and the subsequentResolute Support Mission (2015–2021), which ended when all NATO troops were withdrawn after 20 years of action.
In mid-1995, with the national service system based on universal military training, the Swedish Army consisted of 15 maneuver brigades and, in addition, 100 battalions of various sorts (artillery, engineers, rangers, air defence, amphibious, security, surveillance etc.) with a mobilisation-time of between one and two days. When national service was replaced by a selective service system, fewer and fewer young men were drafted due to the reduction in size of the armed forces. By 2010 the Swedish Army had two battalions that could be mobilized within 90 days. When the volunteer system had been fully implemented by 2019, the army consisted of 7 maneuver battalions and 14 battalions of various sorts with a readiness of one week. The Home Guard was reduced in size to 22,000 soldiers.[41] In 2019 the Swedish Armed Forces, now with a restored national service system combined with volunteer forces, aimed to reach 3 brigades as maneuver units by 2025.[42]
| National Service Force 1995 | Selective Service Force 2010 | All-Volunteer Force 2019 | Selective Service Force/Volunteer Force 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maneuver units | 15 brigades | 2 battalions | 7 battalions | 3 brigades |
| Auxiliary units | 100 battalions | 4 companies | 14 battalions | ? |
| Readiness | 1 to 2 days | 90 days | 7 days | ? |
After having ended the universal male conscription system in 2010, as well as deactivating conscription in peacetime, the conscription system was re-activated in 2017. Since 2018 both women and men are conscripted on equal terms.[43] The motivation behind reactivating conscription was the need for personnel, as volunteer numbers proved to be insufficient to maintain the armed forces.[43][44]
The Swedish defence forces are currently educating 5,000-6,000 conscripts per year.[45] However, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the defence forces stated that there is a need for significantly more than the current.[46] By December 2022, it was announced to increase the yearly conscripted to 10,000 by the end of 2035.[47] In addition, figures from 2022 show that 79% of Swedes support in some form, an increase in the number of people who are conscripted. 47% of the respondents said that the majority of 19/20 year-olds should perform conscription.[48]
Military personnel of the Swedish Armed Forces consists of:
K = Continuously
T = Part-time
.jpg)
P = Conscript, for personnel drafted under the Swedish law of comprehensive defence duty
| Category | Continuously serving | Part-time serving | Contracted |
|---|---|---|---|
| OFF | 3,900 OFF/K | 2,600 OFF/T | – |
| SO | 4,900 SO/K | included in the above SO/T | – |
| GSS | 6,600 GSS/K | 9,500 GSS/T | – |
| Home Guard | – | – | 22,000 |
Annual recruitment of GSS is assumed to be about 4,000 persons.[49]
In 2008, professorMats Alvesson of theUniversity of Lund and Karl Ydén of theUniversity of Gothenburg claimed in anop-ed, based on Ydén'sdoctoral dissertation, that a large part of theofficer corps of the Swedish Armed Forces was preoccupied with administrative tasks instead of training soldiers or partaking in international operations. They claimed that Swedish officers were mainly focused on climbing the ranks and thereby increasing their wages and that the main way of doing this is to take more training courses, which decreases the number of officers that are specialized in their field. Therefore, the authors claimed, the Swedish Armed Forces were poorly prepared for their mission.[50] Major changes have been made to the officer system since then.[citation needed]
The transformation of the old invasion defence-oriented armed forces to the new smaller and more mobile force has also been criticized. According to theSupreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces the present defence budget will not be enough to implement the new defence structure by 2019. And that even when finished the armed forces will only be able to fight for a week at most.[51]
During 2013 severalRussian Air Force exercises over theBaltic Sea aimed at Swedish military targets have made the future of the Swedish Armed Forces a hot topic and several political parties now want to increase defence funding.[52][53][54] In August 2019, the government announced a bank tax to fund the military spending.[55]
.jpg)
When anarmy based on national service (conscription) was introduced in 1901 allcommissioned officers had ranks that were senior of thewarrant officers (underofficerare) andnon-commissioned officers (underbefäl). In a reform 1926 the relative rank of the thensenior warrant officer, fanjunkare, was increased to be equal with thejunior officer rankunderlöjtnant and above the most junior officer rankfänrik. In 1960 the relative rank of thewarrant officers were elevated further so that
In 1972 the personnel structure changed, reflecting increased responsibilities of warrant and non-commissioned officers, renaming theunderofficerare askompaniofficerare, giving them the same ranks as company grade officers (fänrik,löjtnant,kapten).Underbefäl was renamedplutonsofficerare and given the rank titles of sergeant andfanjunkare, although their relative rank were now placed belowfänrik. The commissioned officers were renamedregementsofficerare, beginning withlöjtnant. The three-track career system was maintained, as well as three separate messes.
A major change in the personnel structure in 1983 (NBO 1983), merged the three professional corps of platoon officers, company officers, and regimental officers into a one-track career system within a single corps called professional officers (yrkesofficerare). The three messes were also merged to one.
In 2008 theRiksdag decided to create a two-track career system with a category calledspecialistofficerare. When implementing the parliamentary resolution the Supreme Commander decided that some ranks in this category should, like the oldunderofficerare ranks in 1960–1972, have a relative rank higher than the most junior officers.
TheSwedish government has decided to increase themilitary budget to 2.6 percent ofGDP by 2028. Furthermore, by 2030, they plan to increase the number ofconscripts to 10,000 and to have astanding force of fourbrigades. In 2027, the budget formilitary research will increase by 50% to 1.6 billionSEK. By 2030, the number of employees is expected to increase to 115,000, and to 130,000 by 2035.[56][57]
Planned military budget[58]
| Year | Budget | SEK |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.4% of BNP | 143 Billion |
| 2027 | 2.5% of BNP | 156 Billion |
| 2028 | 2.6% of BNP | 173 Billion |
| 2028 | 2.6% of BNP | 186 Billion |
Sweden has also put an order on 44Leopard 2tanks and will renovate 66 of the ones they have in their current arsenal (for 22 billion SEK). Alongside these renovations, they will also modernise theirCombat Vehicle 90 vehicles (until 2030). Furthermore, the armed forces have placed an order for 575trucks fromScania andVolvo. They will cost approximately 1.4 billionSEK and are expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2026. An effort to modernize the army's firearms was made in 2023 by purchasing a large quantity of weapons in collaboration withFinland from the Finnish manufacturer Sako. The weapons will be delivered during a 10 year period.[59][60][61]
TheSwedish Navy has placed an order for two new working ships fromAstilleros Armon Vigo SA. They are expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2028 and are intended to replaceHMS Pelikanen andHMS Furusund. The Swedish fleet ofStridsbåt 90s will also be strengthened, with 10 units ordered fromSaab in 2024 for approximately 400 millionSEK.[62][63]
Sverige är militärt alliansfritt. Denna säkerhetspolitiska linje, med möjlighet till neutralitet vid konflikter i vårt närområde, har tjänat oss väl. [Sweden is militarily non-aligned. This line of security policy, with the possibility of neutrality in the event of conflicts in our immediate area, has served us well.]
Manpower-numbers are taken from"The World Factbook". 21 June 2022.
