The Swedish government presented its 17th military support package for Ukraine on 9 September 2024. The package, worth SEK 4.6 billion (EUR 0.4 billion), “meets Ukraine’s military needs and creates freedom of action for the future”, the government stated in a press release, adding that it “includes donations of materiel, direct procurement, material units and financial contributions”.
“With support package 17, Sweden enters a new phase of military support to Ukraine, with a greater focus on production instead of donation, the Swedish government stated. “Support package 17 contains three major procurements of materiel of particular priority to Ukraine. The procurements will be carried out by either the Swedish Armed Forces or the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The value of these procurements are worth approximately SEK 600 million.”
Noting that Sweden has previously sent 50 CV90 infantry combat vehicles to Ukraine, Stockholm stated that a further procurement of 40 mm ammunition for these vehicles will take place.
While support package 16 included over 200 PBV 302 armoured tracked personnel carriers (PBV 302), package 17 will include a procurement of camouflage equipment for these combat vehicles.
The government added that, with Ukrainian demand for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) remaining high remains high, Sweden intends to provide additional funds to support the Ukrainian armed forces in this area.
Support package 17 also includes ground combat military equipment worth approximately SEK 500 million. Stockholm stated that “due to Russia’s attacks on civilian and military infrastructure, Ukraine has a great need for anti-aircraft missile systems”. Sweden will therefore supply additional RBS 70 surface-to-air missile systems.
Ukraine has specifically requested anti-tank weapons and anti-tank mines in order to better operate against Russian mechanised units, so support package 17 therefore includes a number of anti-tank weapons, recoilless rifles and anti-tank mines.
The package also includes:
- Protective face masks and protective equipment to enable work/operations in contaminated environments;
- Grenade-launchers with ammunition, recoilless rifles with ammunition, and small-calibre ammunition;
- Training equipment for Ukrainian recruits;
- The transfer of soldiers’ helmets and winter equipment for the coming winter.
Sweden is also providing SEK 500 million worth of marine equipment to help the Ukrainian Navy support the country’s ground defence forces.
“Ukraine’s rivers are subject to much military activity and Sweden’s Combat Boat 90 has been a welcome addition for the Ukrainian Navy,” the Swedish government stated. “Support package 17 includes six additional Combat Boat 90s, including a marine supply solution that will support the Ukrainian Navy’s maintenance unit to create resilience for Swedish materiel. To help launch different types of boats following maintenance actions on land, two launching trailers that can handle various types of boats, including the Combat Boat 90, will also be transferred.”
Although international support for the Ukrainian Air Force is currently focused on supporting donated F-16 fighters, the Swedish government said it is “continuing its efforts to establish conditions for a possible future support of JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine. Support package 17 does so by acquiring materiel parts for the JAS 39 Gripen worth approximately SEK 2.3 billion.”
This measure will facilitate the potential future supply of JAS 39C/D fighters as the Swedish Air Force transitions to the JAS 39E.
Support package 17 also includes approximately SEK 700 million in financial donations to funds and other multilateral initiatives during 2024. “International initiatives where several nations create conditions for larger procurements have proved to be effective,” Stockholm stated. “In this area, there are both short-term multilateral initiatives concerning a particular item of materiel, such as ammunition initiatives, and more permanent regular funds such as the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.”
Including this latest support package, Sweden has now provided SEK 48,1 billion in military support to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. In 2024 alone, Sweden has provided a total of SEK 25 billion in military support to Ukraine.
