Global InformationSwedish Armed Forces information
 | This article needs to be updated. (April 2022) |
| Swedish Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Försvarsmakten | |
 Armed Forces' coat of arms | |
 War flag and Naval Ensign of Sweden | |
| Founded | 1521 |
| Current form | 1975 |
| Service branches |
|
| Headquarters | Stockholm |
| Website | forsvarsmakten |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Government (Kristersson Cabinet) |
| Minister of Defence |  Pål Jonson |
| Supreme Commander |  Gen Micael Bydén |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18–47[1] |
| Conscription | Yes[2][3][4] |
| Available for military service | 3,020,782 males, age 18–47 (2017 est.), 2,760,451 females, age 18–47 (2017 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 1,980,592 males, age 18–47 (2017 est.), 1,649,875 females, age 18–47 (2017 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | 58,937 males (2017 est.), 56,225 females (2017 est.) |
| Active personnel | 25,600,[5] 64,000 (during wartime)[6] |
| Reserve personnel | 34,000[5] |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $12.04 billion (2024)[7] |
| Percent of GDP | 2.0% (2024)[8] |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | BAE Systems AB Saab Bofors Dynamics Saab Kockums Saab AB |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Sweden |
| Ranks | Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces |
The Swedish Armed Forces (Swedish: Försvarsmakten ⓘ, lit. 'the Defence Force') are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Sweden, tasked with the defence of the country as well as with promoting Sweden's wider interests, supporting international peacekeeping, and providing humanitarian aid. It consists of four service branches: the Swedish Army, the Swedish Air Force and the Swedish Navy, as well as a military reserve force, the Home Guard. Since 1994, all Swedish military branches are organised within a single unified government agency, the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, which is headed by the Supreme Commander, even though the individual services maintain their distinct identities.
The Swedish Armed Forces have a long history, dating back to the sixteenth century, and have played an influential role in the history of Sweden. They reached their height in the seventeenth century, during the time of the Swedish Empire, when they participated in a variety of wars; these include the Scanian War, Second Northern War, and Great Northern War, among others.[9] Since the nineteenth century, they have also played an important role in the maintenance of Swedish neutrality, especially during the Cold War.
The Swedish Armed Forces are made up of 25,600 active personnel, 11,800 military reserves, 22,200 Home Guard and 6,300 additional conscripts yearly into the Reserves (set to increase to 8,000 conscripts yearly by 2024) as of 2023.
Units of the Swedish Armed Forces are currently on deployment in several international operations either actively or as military observers, including Afghanistan as part of the Resolute Support Mission and in Kosovo (as part of Kosovo Force).[10] Moreover, Swedish Armed Forces contribute as the leading state for a European Union Battlegroup approximately once every three years through the Nordic Battlegroup. Prior to 2024 Sweden had close relations with NATO and NATO members, and participates in training exercises like the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge, and Exercise Trident Juncture 2018. In 2024, the country formally became a member of NATO.[11] Sweden also has a strong cooperation with its closest allies of the Nordic countries being part of the Nordic Defence Cooperation and joint exercises such as Exercise Northern Wind.
Sweden has not participated in an officially declared war since the 1814 Swedish–Norwegian War, although its forces, under the UN flag, have been involved in conflicts like the Congo Crisis and the military intervention in Libya.
- ^ Ministry of Defence (15 December 1994). "SFS 2010:448. Lag (1994:1809) om totalförsvarsplikt" [SFS 2010: 448. Act (1994: 1809) on compulsory military service]. Lagen.nu (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ "Värnplikten återinförs – tusentals kallas till mönstring" [Conscription is reintroduced - thousands are called up for enlistment]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). TT. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ Nilsson, Christoffer (2 March 2017). "Regeringen inför värnplikt i Sverige – beslut i dag" [The government introduces conscription in Sweden - decision today]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ "En kombination av frivillighet och plikt" [A combination of voluntariness and duty]. Swedish Armed Forces (in Swedish). 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Personalsiffror" [Personnel Figures]. Swedish Armed Forces (in Swedish).
- ^ https://yle.fi/a/74-20076173
- ^ "Statens budget i siffror" [State budget in figures]. Government Office of Sweden (in Swedish). 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "TRENDS IN WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE, 2021" (PDF). SIPRI. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "Swedish Armed Forces". obo. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Försvarsmakten utomlands" [The Armed Forces abroad]. Swedish Armed Forces (in Swedish).
- ^ Gozzi, Laura (7 March 2024). "Sweden formally joins Nato military alliance".