Sweden's Air Force hails 'new era'; deploys first patriot missiles by US manufacturer

Describing it as “new era”, Swedish Armed Forces anunced on Thursday, 18 vember that it received major reinforcements and became most modern in rdic region. Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement, “On Thursday, vember 18, a new era began for Swedish Air Force. This was day when advanced, American robot system Patriot was introduced as part of increasing Swedish defence capability. A system that will w be called air defence system 103 (LvS103) in Armed Forces.”

As per a report by Sputnik, $1.35 billion Patriot air defence deal is witnessed most expensive in history of Swedish Armed Forces and furr elevating countries ties with United States. Reportedly, system was chosen for its claimed ability to ground Russian Iskander missiles. Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement that patriot missiles made by American manufacturer Lockheed Martin were handed over to Halmstad Air Defence Regiment during a ceremony accompanied by fanfare and fluttering Swedish and American flags.

Thursday handover implied that Swedish Air Defence Regiment w has three shutters for two different types of robots, a command post, a combined reconnaissance and fire control radar, a power plant, a repair unit and associated towing vehicles. This maiden unit with fully equipped radars, electronics, and missiles is expected to be ready for battle before end of year. Sweden has acquired two types of missiles, anti-aircraft 103A or Patriot Gem T and 103B or PAC-3 MSE against ballistic missiles to tune of SEK 12 billion ($1.35 billion).

‘It’s a great day' for Swedish Army

Swedish Army Chief Karl Engelbrektson said in a statement, “It is a great day for Armed Forces and army. We are given a new capability to be able to fight ballistic missiles and total effect of air defence systems 103 affects our defence capability in a very concrete way. I can w report to Minister of Defense that air defence system 103 will have so-called initial operational capability (IOC) from turn of year.”

(IM: forsvarsmakten.se)