Paula Wallenburg did military service as a submarine sailor in the mid-90s. Today, over 25 years later, she is head of Sweden’s submarine fleet. According to her, Sweden would actually need twice as many submarines as today.
– The coast is long, 270 miles, and four submarines are not enough.
According to Paula Wallenburg, four or five submarines are needed at sea, but usually they are not available at the same time, they may be undergoing overhaul or something else.
– If you want to have four or five submarines at sea at the same time, you basically need twice as many, she notes.
Four will become five
Sweden currently has four submarines. In connection with the completion of the two new submarines, the oldest of the navy’s submarines will be taken out of service. The total number will then be five.
Submarines are in sharp service both in war and peace, they are constantly out guarding Sweden’s coast.
Submarines are considered so important to Sweden’s defense that since 2014 they have been classified as a “significant security interest”. This means that they do not need to be procured, i.e. bought where it is cheapest, but that the state can choose to buy where it thinks it best serves Sweden’s security.
Tags: Navy submarines important Sweden
