The Government has submitted a bill to the Riksdag regarding Sweden’s participation in an air defence operation to protect and maintain the security of military and civil support to Ukraine. Sweden will also contribute to enhanced Air Policing, NATO’s strengthened airspace surveillance, in Poland in mid-2025.
“With Gripen combat aircraft, Sweden is contributing both to the protection of NATO’s airspace and the continued protection of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, where Poland is a vital hub,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.
“This is the first time that Swedish combat aircraft will take part in airspace surveillance from the territory of another Ally. It is also the first time that Swedish combat aircraft will take part abroad in NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance under the command of NATO,” says Minister for Defence Pål Jonson.
“The Government sees strong security policy reasons for Sweden’s participation in the current operation to contribute to the protection of military and civil support to Ukraine. This contribution also strengthens the security of Sweden, Europe and NATO,” says Christian Democrats Group Leader Camilla Brodin.
“Support to Ukraine is the Government’s top foreign policy priority. The focus is, and will remain, on strengthening Ukraine through military, political and civil support. By participating in the airspace defence operation, we are helping to protect supplies, thus ensuring that support to Ukraine arrives,” says Second Vice President of the Liberal Party Fredrik Malm.
The bill proposes making a Swedish armed force available from 1 May 2025 until 31 August 2025. The proposed armed force will comprise a maximum of eight combat aircraft and their personnel. The aim is to take part in NATO’s airspace operation in Poland that protects and maintains the security of the necessary logistics used for military and civil support to Ukraine. In addition to the armed force, the Government also intends to instruct the Swedish Armed Forces to take part in airborne air and sea surveillance capabilities and airborne transport capabilities.
Between April and June 2025, a Swedish fighter aircraft division and ground forces will take part in NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance and incident preparedness, known as enhanced NATO Air Policing. The force will operate from a base in Poland.
NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance was introduced following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, as part of extra measures NATO took at the time by NATO to demonstrate the Alliance’s collective commitment to deter Russia from aggression towards NATO. The enhanced airspace surveillance is flexible and scalable and is adaptable depending on the security situation.
