Suggestive shot of a VISBY-class corvette during high-speed operations. (Photo: Saab) Surface Vessels By 2030, the Kockums divisionwill be in demand to design, develop, and produce four new-generation stealth corvettes, larger and more capable than the current VISBY design. The project is in the pre-definition phase and, as Skoog Haslum highlighted, much will depend on this autumn’s discussion on defence budget allocation. Meanwhile, legacy corvettes will undergo an extensive mid-life update that will empower the VISBYclass with surface-to-surface and air defence missiles. Lessons learned from the VISBY-class included ships exclusively built with composite The pressure of the war in Ukraine has impacted Sweden and resulted in a 40% increase in its defence budget in the 2020-2025 period – after shrinking expenditures since the 1970s up to 2015. This, along with the anticipated accession to NATO, will reshape the country’s armed forces around the concept of ‘total defence’ – in similar fashion to neighbouring Finland. Although the Swedish Navy will receive a minority share of the defence budget, the increase in resources will allow for a larger order of battle, meaning more ships, submarines, and mechanized amphibious infantry. As Ewa Skoog Haslum, Commander in Chief of the Swedish Navy, pointed out during a recent presentation, such growth will require time. In fact, human resources need to be trained, and commanding officials need years to be combat-ready. Moreover, Swedish defence industry will have to adapt to the new pace as well as preparing to face the opportunities and challenges coming from the accession to NATO. The Swedish Navy has already established its desired level of force for 2030, and talks with the principal defence industry companies are in progress to assess whether current engineering and production capabilities are consistent with the Navy’s agenda. The cornerstone of the Swedish defence industrial base is Saab Technologies, which features a broad product range in all operational domains. In the naval sector, Saab’s spearhead is represented by its Kockums division, specialized in submarines and surface vessels. As Sweden comes back to the basics in defence planning, Saab will regain its role of state armaments factory. Marco Giulio Barone In the wake of NATO membership 32 · MT 5/2022 From the Bridge Scheme recently published by the Swedish Navy representing its desired level of force in 2030. (Photo: Swedish Navy)
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