Latest news with #SwedishArmedForces
American Military News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Conscription age for fmr. officers may be raised to 70 in Sweden
A new proposal in Sweden suggests that the Scandinavian nation could increase the upper conscription age limit for former officers from 47 to 70. The proposal comes as Sweden is taking steps to increase defense spending amid rising tension in the region due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. According to Reuters, investigators involved in a government-appointed review announced the conscription age limit suggestion on Monday, saying, 'The Swedish Armed Forces' need for officers justifies an extended military service duration that should apply, regardless of the state of alert, to those who were previously employed as professional officers or reserve officers.' Reuters reported that if the proposal is approved in Sweden, former military officers up to 70 years old could be recalled to service in the Swedish Armed Forces. According to Reuters, the war between Russia and Ukraine has forced the Scandinavian country to change its defense plans, ultimately leading to Sweden joining NATO last year. The outlet noted that Sweden has doubled its defense spending to 2.4% of the country's gross domestic product and is planning to increase defense spending to 3.5% of the country's gross domestic product by 2032. READ MORE: Putin drafts 160,000 men for Russian military as Ukraine war continues The BBC previously reported that Sweden reintroduced military conscription for men and women in 2017, which took effect in 2018. At the time, a Swedish spokesperson said, 'The Russian illegal annexation of Crimea [in 2014], the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in our neighbourhood are some of the reasons [for the conscription].' According to Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson revealed the results of the Swedish government's inquiry regarding ways the country could expand the size of the Swedish Armed Forces in the event of a future conflict during a press conference on Monday. The outlet noted that Jonson previously announced a goal of increasing Sweden's military from 88,000 personnel to 115,000 personnel. During Monday's press conference, Johnson said, 'We are making very large investments now in military defence. Much of the focus has been on strengthened materiel supply.' 'But we will also need to continue working to strengthen the Armed Forces' personnel supply,' Jonson added.
Local Sweden
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Why a Black Hawk helicopter landed on the roof of the Swedish parliament
If you looked up at the Swedish parliament in Stockholm on Tuesday morning, you may have seen (and presumably heard) a Black Hawk helicopter landing on top of the building. Advertisement Marie Tisäter, a spokesperson for the Swedish Armed Forces, explained that the helicopter was taking part in a joint exercise by the Armed Forces and the police. The exercise was held between 8am and noon. 'This part of the exercise focused on being able to descend via a rope from high up,' she told the TT news agency. A sign next to the Swedish parliament reading "exercise". Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT It's no coincidence that the roof of the parliament building was used. 'It's important that we train in places where we should be able to operate,' said Tisäter. She did not say whether similar exercises will be held at parliament in the future. 'We regularly practise with each other in various locations,' she said. The helicopter hovering above central Stockholm. Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Swedish military joins Telia, Ericsson to boost defense tech
By Supantha Mukherjee STOCKHOLM: The Swedish Armed Forces on Tuesday joined Telia and Ericsson 's 5G innovation program to strengthen military communications , logistics, security and support interoperability within the NATO alliance. Telecom operator Telia and mobile gear maker Ericsson partnered in 2023 to start the NorthStar 5G innovation program to experiment on the latest 5G technologies and had focused on industrial customers. "We need to speed it up due to the geopolitical situation in the last six months," Brigadier-General Mattias Hanson, chief information officer at the Swedish Armed Forces, told Reuters. "We have talked about it for years, but now we have to start it up," he said. European countries have been scrambling to boost their defences against a potential Russian attack after the Trump administration made clear since it took office that the U.S. was no longer willing to be the main guarantor of Europe's security. Sweden, NATO's newest member, currently spends around 2.7% of GDP on defence and said this year it would target 3.5% of defence spending in 2030. The Swedish Armed Forces would work with new players and startups to build new capabilities and solve military problems. One of the areas of cooperation will be communication for drones, Hanson said. "We will try to figure out how to be faster in innovation and how to solve a military problem with civilian technology." The military has its own communication system, but plans to use a combination of different technologies such as radio, satellites, 5G and fiber optics.
The Star
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Swedish military joins Telia, Ericsson to boost defense tech
Ericsson logo is displayed on the company's headquarters building in Stockholm, Sweden July 12, 2024. TT News Agency/Mikaela Landestrom via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -The Swedish Armed Forces on Tuesday joined Telia and Ericsson's 5G innovation program to strengthen military communications, logistics, security and support interoperability within the NATO alliance. Telecom operator Telia and mobile gear maker Ericsson partnered in 2023 to start the NorthStar 5G innovation program to experiment on the latest 5G technologies and had focused on industrial customers. "We need to speed it up due to the geopolitical situation in the last six months," Brigadier-General Mattias Hanson, chief information officer at the Swedish Armed Forces, told Reuters. "We have talked about it for years, but now we have to start it up," he said. European countries have been scrambling to boost their defences against a potential Russian attack after the Trump administration made clear since it took office that the U.S. was no longer willing to be the main guarantor of Europe's security. Sweden, NATO's newest member, currently spends around 2.7% of GDP on defence and said this year it would target 3.5% of defence spending in 2030. The Swedish Armed Forces would work with new players and startups to build new capabilities and solve military problems. One of the areas of cooperation will be communication for drones, Hanson said. "We will try to figure out how to be faster in innovation and how to solve a military problem with civilian technology." The military has its own communication system, but plans to use a combination of different technologies such as radio, satellites, 5G and fiber optics. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm, editing by Terje Solsvik)
CNA
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Swedish military joins Telia, Ericsson to boost defense tech
STOCKHOLM :The Swedish Armed Forces on Tuesday joined Telia and Ericsson's 5G innovation program to strengthen military communications, logistics, security and support interoperability within the NATO alliance. Telecom operator Telia and mobile gear maker Ericsson partnered in 2023 to start the NorthStar 5G innovation program to experiment on the latest 5G technologies and had focused on industrial customers. "We need to speed it up due to the geopolitical situation in the last six months," Brigadier-General Mattias Hanson, chief information officer at the Swedish Armed Forces, told Reuters. "We have talked about it for years, but now we have to start it up," he said. European countries have been scrambling to boost their defences against a potential Russian attack after the Trump administration made clear since it took office that the U.S. was no longer willing to be the main guarantor of Europe's security. Sweden, NATO's newest member, currently spends around 2.7 per cent of GDP on defence and said this year it would target 3.5 per cent of defence spending in 2030. The Swedish Armed Forces would work with new players and startups to build new capabilities and solve military problems. One of the areas of cooperation will be communication for drones, Hanson said. "We will try to figure out how to be faster in innovation and how to solve a military problem with civilian technology." The military has its own communication system, but plans to use a combination of different technologies such as radio, satellites, 5G and fiber optics.
