When the Defense Committee’s final report is presented on Friday, it will be a year earlier than planned. For Sweden’s army chief Jonny Lindfors, it is welcome.
– From my perspective, it is only positive. If you think about what has happened in the world since the 2020 defense decision was made, we live in a completely new context and a different security situation. Therefore, a new defense decision is in order.
In his role as head of the army, Jonny Lindfors has had “very little insight” into the defense committee’s work with the report. On the other hand, he has presented what he would most like politicians to decide on.
At least he wants to be able to implement the various parts of the previous defense decision from 2020 with, among other things, four brigades and a battle group on Gotland.
– We also want to increase the ability for air defense in the brigades as a clear lesson from Ukraine, to be able to protect ourselves against air strikes or incoming missiles.
What does the capacity look like today?
– Today it is limited in scope and volume. These are relatively old systems that need to be updated both with regard to sensor and range and how many targets you can meet at the same time.
In terms of competence then?
– Competence-wise, I feel that we are fairly well placed. We are very talented but very small. Thank goodness we preserved the breadth of capabilities in the Armed Forces at the expense of volume. But we never shut down the air defenses in Sweden like so many other nations did.
In Ukraine, the Himars rocket artillery system has been effective during Russia’s full-scale war of invasion. Long-range rocket artillery is also high on the Swedish army chief’s wish list.
– We need the ability for long range and combat, because the battle today is also fought in depth. Otherwise, you have very poor duel values if you yourself cannot shoot at the same distance as your opponent.
Lindfors also wants to see a better territorial defense.
– There is a lack of territorial defense that we once had but dismantled. Now we are moving field army units to the east with a battalion in the Baltics, and in terms of defense planning, we probably think that the defense of Sweden will begin in eastern Finland. This creates a void in strategically important areas in Sweden that the Home Guard cannot fill.
Historically, the Riksdag has decided on the overall direction of total defense every five years. Going forward, Jonny Lindfors believes that it should happen more often.
– If global developments continue at this breakneck speed, then maybe there shouldn’t be five years between each defense decision, he says.
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