Sweden Acquires German Air Defense System for 9 Billion SEK

Sweden is purchasing the German air defense system IRIS for nine billion SEK, announced Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at a press conference on Gotland.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Ulf Kristersson will participate in the NATO summit in The Hague alongside Defense Minister Pål Jonson and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.

Before that, the Prime Minister is making a brief stop on Gotland to visit the Armed Forces.

He brings news that Sweden is investing in seven units of the medium-range air defense system IRIS-T SLM, a system currently used by Ukraine in the war against Russia.

"Sweden is now, literally, with these contracts acquiring a completely new capability in the form of IRIS-T. That is, the same basic technology found in our Gripen fighter jets but now in a completely new version in a medium-range version," says Ulf Kristersson.

The order includes 49 vehicles to defend the army's brigades and the Gotland battle group against air attacks from drones and fighter jets. The system has a range of 40 kilometers and an altitude coverage of 20 kilometers, according to a government press release.

"We have decided to acquire a new medium-range air defense for our brigades and the battle group here on Gotland to better defend the forces we have."

The delivery of the system is set to begin in 2028.