Finance
Sweden wants long-range weapon systems able to strike inside Russia
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 25, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 25, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Sweden's military desires long-range weapons to counter Russia's capabilities, aiming for systems with a 2,000 km range to enhance deterrence.
By Johan Ahlander
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden's military wants long-range cruise missiles able to strike targets deep inside other countries, a deterrent which the defence minister said on Tuesday was needed to match Russia's own long-range capabilities.
In a report submitted to the government this week, the Swedish Armed Forces said it wants weapon systems with a range of up to 2,000 km (1,243 miles) to be able to strike military installations and critical infrastructure deep behind enemy lines.
"The experience from the war in Ukraine indicates that Russia is vigorously developing its long-range capabilities, both with cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and long-range drones," Defence Minister Pal Jonson told Reuters. "We must build a stronger deterrent against that threat."
The distance between Moscow and Stockholm is around 1,000 km.
Sweden's air force has ordered the Swedish-German Taurus cruise missiles, with a reach of around 500 km, for its Gripen fighter jets, but Jonson said other systems could also be considered.
The report also said that Russia is expected to increase its military capacity in the coming five years and that Sweden needs to increase its air defence and intelligence capabilities, including drones and spy satellites.
(Reporting by Johan AhlanderEditing by Ros Russell)
A cruise missile is a guided missile that is designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision. They are typically used for striking ground targets.
Military deterrence is a strategy aimed at preventing an adversary from taking an undesirable action, typically through the threat of significant retaliation or punishment.
Air defense refers to the measures taken to protect a country or area from aerial attacks, including the use of missiles, radar systems, and fighter jets.
Ballistic missiles are weapons that are launched into the air and follow a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload to a predetermined target, often over long distances.
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