Months after the Swedish government announced that it would seek to join NATO, the Scandinavian country is closer to becoming a member of the transatlantic alliance.

Turkey, a member of NATO but also the biggest hurdle in Sweden’s candidacy, has relented after months of carrot and stick diplomacy. Now Stockholm is on the brink of becoming the 32nd member-state and joining in the wake of its neighbor and ally Finland. Hungary is the last remaining hurdle.

That means fighters like the JAS 39 Gripen, showcased above, will soon be part of the NATO alliance. 

Sweden and NATO

Sweden will bring important capabilities into NATO.

The Swedish Armed Forces are comprised of four branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Home Guard). As a whole, the Swedish military can field approximately 56,000 troops—24,000 on active duty and 32,000 in the reserves.

As the largest service, the Army is a fully modernized and modern force with several powerful weapon systems, including 120 Leopard 2A5 main battle tanks, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, and Archer 155mm self-propelled howitzers. In total, the Swedish Army can field more than 2,000 tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery pieces.

The Swedish Air Force is an important player in the Baltics. With over 230 fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft, including approximately 100 JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets and 30 NH-90 and UH-60 Black Hawk medium-lift helicopters, the Swedish Air Force is capable of interception and strike missions. Moreover, years of joint training with the U.S. military and other NATO forces mean that the Swedish Air Force has attained a high level of interoperability with its transatlantic partners.

Finally, the Swedish Navy can field approximately 20 large surface combatants, 13 patrol ships, and four submarines. Swedish subs are competent and bring a home-field understanding of the Baltic Sea and the waterways around the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

Nation of Warriors and Arctic Warfare

To begin with, the Scandinavian country has had decades to perfect an organic type of warfighting that includes large parts of society. Swedes have been conditioned to expect large-scale fighting dating back from the Cold War. Swedish highways, for example, can easily accommodate fighter jet aircraft like the domestically produced and designed JAS 39 Gripen.

Moreover, Sweden has national service and thus a ready force of reserves in case of protracted combat. The fighting in Ukraine—almost unrealistic to someone a few years ago—has highlighted the key role of a ready combat reserve to the overall effectiveness of a military. As of 2017, close to four million Swedes were fit for military service as part of a reserve force.

Another benefit Sweden will bring to the transatlantic alliance is Arctic warfare expertise. Swedish conventional and special operations units regularly train in arctic conditions due to the geographic location of their country. As such, they have developed an expertise in that demanding type of warfare.

With tensions around the arctic circle—where several countries, including the U.S., China, and Russia vie for control—on the rise, the potential of NATO troops receiving extensive arctic warfare training from their Swedish counterparts is enticing. A better-trained force increases the overall deterrence of the transatlantic alliance. 

About the Author  

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP. Email the author: [email protected].