STOCKHOLM, April 2 (Reuters) - Sweden will buy air defence and anti-drone systems worth 8.7 billion Swedish crowns ($916 million) from among others Saab and BAE Systems, the country's defence minister said on Thursday.
Sweden, like most European countries, is racing to bolster its defences following Russia's invasion of Ukraine with military spending projected to hit 2.8% of GDP in 2026, rising to 3.5% in 2030.
"It is more important than ever to invest in air defence capabilities," Pal Jonson said in a statement. "Protection against threats from the air is a high priority for the government and we will conclude more agreements to strengthen the Swedish defence."
The package will include anti-drone system Gute II, a radar and cannon system that can be mounted stationary or on vehicles. It is designed to protect military units as well as critical infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants or railway junctions.
Saab said in a separate statement that their part of the package amounted to 2.6 billion crowns and was for its anti-drone platform designed to detect and neutralise low-flying small- to medium-sized drones.
The total package will also be used for ammunition and vehicles, including infantry mobility vehicles from Finish defence firm Sisu, Jonson said.
Deliveries will take place in 2027 and 2028.
($1 = 9.4946 Swedish crowns)
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; editing by Niklas Pollard)
