Stockholm, Aug. 29 – Sweden will deploy Gripen fighter jets and corvette warships to Finland for surveillance and protection of Finnish territory until at least the end of 2026, Finland’s defence forces said. The Swedish equipment strengthens air surveillance in particular, releasing Finnish resources for repelling violations and incidents if needed. Neighbouring NATO members Sweden and Finland maintain close bilateral defence cooperation along Finland’s 1,340-kilometre eastern border with Russia.
Sweden’s Defence Minister Pal Jonson said Sweden responded to a Finnish request to strengthen air defence due to the deteriorating security situation. Swedish armed forces may help Finland repel violations of Finnish territory if necessary under the agreement. Besides fighter jets and vessels with drone combat capabilities, Sweden may contribute ground-based anti-drone systems.
Military drones straying into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stoke concerns that the war in Ukraine is spilling over into NATO northern borders with Russia. As Ukraine steps up attacks on Russian Baltic Sea oil shipping ports, some drones have missed targets and led to security warnings in neighbouring countries.
Sweden’s SAAB, maker of Gripen, won a 1.2 billion crown order from Finland for its RBS 70 NG portable air defence missile system, deepening Nordic defence cooperation amid regional tensions.