Sweden is strengthening its submarine fleet to increase its presence in the Baltic Sea and deter the aggressor country of Russia.
What is known about Sweden's intentions to strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea
It is noted that Sweden is preparing to add two more vessels to the four existing submarines.
The 66-meter diesel-electric submarines, named after the two Swedish regions of Blekinge and Skаne, will be commissioned in 2027 and 2028.
These will be the first submarines built by Sweden since the mid-1990s.
They will have the task of patrolling the eastern regions of the Baltic Sea and monitoring and countering Russian naval operations.
According to the journalists of the publication, the construction of new submarines by Sweden is a general trend of recent times for the countries of Northern Europe.
In particular, Norway recently ordered four submarines from Germany.
The Netherlands is considering ordering 4 submarines from Germany or France.
Denmark, which got rid of its submarine fleet in 2004, is also considering reviving it.
The authors of the article note that the restoration of the submarine fleet is taking place against the background of Russia's demonstrative efforts to increase its own submarine fleet.
Thus, in December, President Vladimir Putin posed in the dock of the factory in Severodvinsk against the background of two new submarines — "Krasnoyarsk" and "Emperor Alexander the Third".
According to a report by the Swedish Defense Research Agency, by 2030 the Russian fleet will have 50 submarines.
The Baltic Sea is difficult to deal with if you do not have the necessary experience, and the fact that a country for which it is a backyard is joining NATO with such regional experience should make it easier to solve operational issues, — notes the former commander of a Swedish submarine, and Karl Gulenius, currently an operations planning specialist of the country's Naval Forces
