The Swedish government finalised a procurement agreement for 10 firing units of the American-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which have seen combat in Ukraine.
According to an announcement by Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson, the $728.8million deal will also cover the rocket ammunition, with the units expected to enter service in 2027.
HIMARS is a truck-mounted rocket launcher that offers tremendous firepower and mobility, being capable of firing various types of missiles and ammunition.
The system was originally developed by American defence firm Lockheed Martin for the US Army to serve as an artillery weapon for rapid deployment.
It is also renowned for its shoot-and-scoot tactic due to its ability to deliver ample fire support while being fast enough to change locations.
NATO members
Aside from Ukraine, HIMARS is also operated by NATO members Poland, Romania, and Estonia.
Future European operators include Italy, Lithuania, Croatia, and Latvia.
By acquiring the rocket system, Sweden could improve its military interoperability with regional partners in the Baltic Sea.
Domestic production for ammunition
Under the same deal, Swedish defence company Saab will collaborate with Lockheed Martin to co-produce the ammunition locally.
This move is expected to allow Sweden to be independently capable of supplying rocket munitions for the long-term while integrating with NATO’s network.
This is crucial, considering that missile stockpiles for HIMARS are consistently low due to the war in Ukraine, in which the rocket system has seen major combat actions.
The acquisition of HIMARS is in line with the current modernisation movements in Scandinavia, where countries are scrambling to acquire long-range strike capabilities to help protect ground and maritime corridors in the region.
On top of military modernisation efforts, Sweden has also secured a joint declaration with Finland, which will align their rocket forces’ operational doctrine, maintenance protocols, and crew training.
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