MILAN — Sweden prepares to obtain anti-aircraft weapons for its fast-assault boats to counter drones and helicopters, as authorities have actually alerted that the Baltic Sea might end up being a flashpoint with Russia.
The Swedish Ministry of Defense’s devices branch, called FMV, has actually released a call to acquire 8 anti-aircraft weapons under an agreement valued at over $176 million.
The weapons will be put on the Swedish-made Fight Boat 90, a high-speed and sharp-turning attack craft for the nation’s amphibious systems, according to just recently released tender files. The are slated to run “in all marine geographical locations of interest,” and will consist of 12 years worth of ammo developed to harm airplane.
Anti-aircraft weapons can be a lower-cost option to rocket interceptors when it concerns securing soldiers versus drone attacks, a situation that has actually ended up being common in Ukraine’s defense versus Russian attacks.
While some Russian boats are currently equipped with these kinds of air defenses, Moscow was likewise reported to be developing mobile anti-aircraft weapon systems, where each truck would be geared up with Soviet-era anti-aircraft cannons.
The Swedish procurement comes in the middle of issues revealed by Micael Bydén, leader of the nation’s militaries, over Russia’s aspirations in the Baltic Sea area.
Of particular interest, he kept in mind in a current interview with German media network RND, is the island of Gotland, situated in the middle of the Baltic Sea, around 330 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
“I am positive that Putin even has both eyes on Gotland – his objective is to acquire control of the Baltic Sea, and who manages Gotland manages the Baltic Sea,” Byden stated.
Offered its tactical significance for Sweden, now a NATO member, and the broader area, the Scandinavian nation has actually stationed irreversible soldiers on the island.
Previously this month, the Russian defense ministry drifted strategies to modify its maritime borders around the nation’s islands in the Gulf of Finland and around Kaliningrad, a relocation that would open territorial conflicts with neighboring NATO members.