Sweden said it has allocated $295 million to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, boosting the defense aid it extends to Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the 18th military package covers the delivery of 18 ARCHER artillery units and five Arthur counter-battery fire radar units and financial support to improve the Ukrainian defense industry. The Archers are slated to start reaching Sweden in 2025, while the Arthurs will commence delivery by 2026.
The BAE Systems-made ARCHER is a next-generation wheeled artillery system designed to enhance soldier and platform survivability. Its capabilities include onboard ballistics calculation, a firing range in excess of 50 kilometers and a fuel range of up to 650 km. On the other hand, Saab built the Arthur to offer a lightweight, highly mobile weapon-locating system, providing freedom to maneuver and quickly counter-fire.
“Ukraine is in urgent need of artillery and artillery ammunition. This has been a priority for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said.
Besides extending essential equipment, Stockholm is also planning to join the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s artillery coalition, a group dedicated to developing and strengthening Kyiv’s artillery capacity and ensuring interoperability with NATO.
Data from the Swedish government indicate that since 2022, it has spent $7.2 billion on various initiatives to support Ukrainian forces.
Sweden joins several European nations in ensuring Ukraine has the weapons it needs to protect its sovereignty. In March, defense officials from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to Kyiv.