Sweden's government proposes further defence spending growth
Sweden's proposed 2026 defence budget would continue a historic acceleration of defence spending growth. (Janes Defence Budgets)
Sweden's government presented its budget bill to the parliament (Riksdag) on 22 September.
The bill included proposed additional funding for defence of SEK12.15 billion (USD1.3 billion) in 2026, SEK16.21 billion in 2027, and SEK18.07 billion in 2028.
It also included proposed support to Ukraine of SEK36.09 billion in 2026, SEK44.53 billion in 2027, and SEK5.02 billion in 2028.
For 2026, the proposed additional defence and Ukraine support above, plus SEK1.22 billion for civil defence and SEK0.37 billion for enhanced cyber security, come to SEK49.83 billion. This is what the government referred to as âaround SEK50 billionâ in having âproposed allocating major funding to Sweden's defence, which will be temporarily financed through loans, as a deviation from the budget policy target for net lendingâ.
Procurement
In advance of the budget bill submission, on 15 September, Sweden's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that for what it terms the âReinforcement of military defence' the government sought SEK9.5 billion in 2026, SEK13.3 billion in 2027, and SEK15 billion in 2028; for an âEnhanced material development programme' it sought SEK50 million each year for 2026, 2027, and 2028; and for a âNew defence innovation unit' it sought SEK6 million in 2026, SEK10 million in 2027, and SEK10 million in 2028. For a âNew defence industry establishment and co-operation office' it sought SEK3 million in 2026, SEK5 million in 2027, and SEK6 million in 2028; for âResearch infrastructure' it sought SEK30 million in 2026, SEK50 million in 2027, and SEK75 million in 2028; and for âGroundbreaking technologies worthy of protection' it sought SEK10 million each year for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
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