Sweden is investing 3.5 billion Swedish kronor (about $367 million) in anti-drone systems, Defense Minister Pål Jonson announced on social media.
The funding will be used to purchase new weapons to shoot down drones, strike UAVs for air bases, and systems to disrupt enemy drones. The EW systems are planned to be purchased for both vehicles and soldiers (apparently backpack or other wearable types).
According to Jonson, this will significantly strengthen the country's defense capabilities. There are also plans to purchase more spare parts and equipment for combat aircraft, which will cost 1.5 billion Swedish kronor ($158 million) separately.
In total, the government will allocate more than 5 billion Swedish kronor (over 525 million US dollars) to improve the country's air defense capabilities. The delivery time for the equipment will be reduced by 8 years - that is, the project will be completed in 2028, not 2036.
"Recent drone violations and espionage are a reminder that aerial threats are becoming an increasingly important part of modern warfare. We must protect ourselves against this," Jonson stressed.
It was previously reported that unidentified drones are increasingly being spotted over the factories of air defense manufacturer Thales Belgium. At the same time, local laws prohibit shooting them down or suppressing them.