In New Military Aid Package, Sweden to Send Ukraine Artillery, Tanks, Air Defence Systems

The Swedish parliament, the Riksdag, approved on Thursday the government’s proposal to transfer a $532 million military aid package to Ukraine.

The proposal, submitted in an additional amending budget for 2023, gives the Swedish government the right to decide to donate additional military equipment to Ukraine, including tanks, artillery pieces of the type Archer Artillery System and Robot 97, as well as ammunition.

In addition, Sweden’s government is authorised by the parliament to sell 14 Archer artillery systems to the UK, which previously donated such artillery to Ukraine.

"The Government’s justification for the proposal is that it is in Sweden’s interests to offer military equipment to Ukraine," a Riksdag statement, published Thursday, read.

The Swedish 155-mm Archer self-propelled artillery system is manufactured by Bofors, a part of the British arms concern BAE Systems.

Its gun can fire eight to nine rounds per minute, hitting targets 30 to 60 kilometres away.

Sweden’s donations come on the heels of an announcement by the Finnish government to approve the 14th package of military aid to Ukraine, which includes three Leopard 2 mine-clearing tanks.