The Swedish military will participate in the surveillance and protection of Finnish territory with Gripen fighter jets and corvettes, at least until the end of 2026, the Finnish Armed Forces announced today.
“The Swedish equipment specifically strengthens aerial surveillance, freeing up the Finnish Armed Forces’ own resources to deter violations and incidents, if necessary,” the Finnish Army stated in a press release.
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The neighboring countries, the two newest NATO members, already have close bilateral defense cooperation. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer-long eastern border with Russia.
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“Sweden responded to a request from Finland to bolster its air defense due to the deteriorating security situation,” Swedish Defense Minister Pal Johnson, told Reuters, adding that, under the agreement, the Swedish armed forces can, if necessary, help Finland repel violations of Finnish territory.
In addition to fighter jets and ships capable of engaging unmanned aerial vehicles, Sweden can also contribute ground-based anti-drone systems, he said.
Military drones entering the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are fueling concerns that the war in Ukraine is spreading to NATO’s northern border with Russia.
Ukraine is intensifying attacks on Russian ports in the Baltic Sea, and some Ukrainian drones have missed their targets, raising security concerns in neighboring countries.
Sweden’s SAAB, the manufacturer of the Gripen, announced in a separate statement today that it had won a Finnish procurement contract worth 2 billion kronor (i.e., $126 million) and will deliver the RBS 70 NG portable air defense missile system to the country.
SOURCE: CNA
