Swedish Defence — Saab, Gripen & NATO's Newest Member
For over two centuries, Sweden defined itself through neutrality. The country last fought a war in 1814. Yet behind this peaceful exterior, Sweden built one of the most sophisticated defence industries in the world — capable of producing advanced fighter jets, submarines, radar systems, and missile technology entirely domestically. In 2024, Sweden's accession to NATO ended the era of formal neutrality and opened a new chapter for an industry that has always been more formidable than the country's diplomatic reputation might suggest.
Saab (Svenska Aeroplan AB) was founded in 1937 with the explicit purpose of ensuring Sweden could produce its own military aircraft — a strategic priority as Europe descended toward war. The company's first combat aircraft, the Saab 17, entered service in 1942.
Today, Saab is a global defence and security company producing fighter aircraft, radar and sensor systems, electronic warfare systems, submarines, torpedoes, ground combat systems, and command and control software. The company's product range reflects Sweden's historical requirement for self-sufficiency across the full spectrum of defence capabilities.
JAS 39 Gripen
The JAS 39 Gripen (Gripen (Griffin)) is Saab's flagship product and one of the most capable light multirole fighters in the world. Designed to take off from dispersed highway bases, be maintained by conscript technicians, and achieve air superiority against larger aircraft, the Gripen reflects distinctly Swedish defence thinking: agile, cost-effective, and designed for national survival rather than power projection.
The current Gripen E model features an AESA radar, advanced electronic warfare suite, supercruise capability, and integration with Sweden's sophisticated network-centric warfare system. It is in service with the Swedish Air Force and has been exported to or ordered by Brazil, South Africa, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Thailand.
The Gripen's operating cost — roughly $4,700 per flight hour compared to $35,000+ for the F-35 — makes it an attractive option for nations seeking advanced capability without the budget of a superpower.
Beyond Gripen
Saab's portfolio extends well beyond fighter jets:
- GlobalEye: An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system based on a modified Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, sold to the UAE and Sweden.
- Submarines: Saab Kockums designs and builds some of the world's most advanced conventional submarines. The Gotland-class submarine, featuring air-independent propulsion (AIP), famously "sank" the US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan during a 2005 naval exercise — demonstrating that a small, quiet submarine could defeat a carrier battle group.
- Carl-Gustaf: The ubiquitous recoilless rifle, used by over 40 armed forces worldwide, including the US Army.
- RBS-15: Anti-ship missile, in service across Scandinavia.
- Giraffe radar systems: Multi-function surveillance radars used by over 30 countries.
- Barracuda camouflage: Advanced signature management systems.
Swedish Foreign Policy — From 200 years of neutrality to NATO membership — the geopolitical context behind Sweden's defence posture.
The Logic of Swedish Defence
Sweden's defence industry exists because of a specific strategic calculation. As a large, sparsely populated country facing the Soviet Union across the Baltic Sea, Cold War Sweden concluded that neutrality was only credible if backed by genuine military capability. Importing all defence equipment would create dangerous dependencies. Therefore, Sweden invested in domestic production across nearly every category of military hardware.
The result was disproportionate. A country of 8–9 million people (Cold War era) developed and produced fighter jets, submarines, tanks, artillery, radar systems, and electronic warfare equipment — a breadth of capability normally associated with great powers. This was expensive, but the political consensus held that the cost of dependency was higher.
Total Defence Concept
Sweden's defence doctrine centred on totalförsvaret (total defence) — the integration of military and civilian defence into a unified national resilience strategy. In wartime, Swedish society would mobilise entirely: the military would fight, while civilian agencies managed food supply, healthcare, communications, and public order.
The total defence concept was scaled back after the Cold War but has been revived since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2024, the Swedish government distributed an updated version of the Om krisen eller kriget kommer (If Crisis or War Comes) pamphlet to every Swedish household — a practical guide to emergency preparedness.
NATO Accession
Sweden formally joined NATO on 7 March 2024, ending over 200 years of formal military non-alignment. The decision followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which fundamentally altered the Scandinavian security calculus. Public opinion shifted dramatically — support for NATO membership surged from approximately 30% to over 50% within weeks.
The accession process was prolonged by objections from Turkey and Hungary, but ultimately completed. Sweden's entry strengthens NATO's northern flank considerably: Swedish military capabilities, intelligence resources, territorial control of the Baltic approaches, and the island of Gotland — strategically vital for Baltic Sea control — all enhance the alliance.
For Sweden's defence industry, NATO membership opens new markets and interoperability requirements. Saab's products — already NATO-compatible — are expected to benefit from increased European defence spending.
Economic Impact
Sweden's defence and security sector employs approximately 35,000 people directly (including military personnel) and generates significant export income. Swedish arms exports have historically averaged SEK 15–20 billion annually, placing Sweden among the top 15 global arms exporters — extraordinary for a country of its size.
Defence spending, which fell below 1% of GDP during the post-Cold War "peace dividend" era, has now been committed to exceed 2% of GDP by 2025 — meeting the NATO guideline that Sweden had criticised before joining the alliance. This represents a significant increase in procurement budgets, benefiting both Saab and the broader Swedish defence supply chain.
The Riksdag — How Sweden's parliament oversees defence policy and the procurement decisions that shape the industry.
Gotland — The Baltic's Strategic Prize
The island of Gotland ((Sweden's largest island)) has emerged as one of Europe's most strategically significant locations. Sitting in the middle of the Baltic Sea, equidistant from Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania, Gotland is key to controlling sea and air access to the Baltic states. Sweden re-established a permanent military garrison on Gotland in 2018, reversing a 2005 withdrawal that is now widely regarded as a strategic error.
Summer Coast Itinerary — Gotland is also Sweden's premier summer destination — medieval Visby, beaches, and wild beauty.
Looking Ahead
The convergence of NATO membership, increased defence budgets, and a volatile European security environment creates both opportunity and pressure for Sweden's defence industry. Saab is investing in next-generation capabilities: unmanned combat aerial vehicles, advanced cyber defence, space-based surveillance, and AI-enabled decision support systems.
Sweden's transition from neutral to allied is the most significant shift in its foreign and defence policy since the Napoleonic Wars. For an industry built on the logic of national self-sufficiency, the challenge now is integration — contributing to collective defence while maintaining the distinctive Swedish approach to military technology that produced some of the Cold War's most ingenious weapons systems.