Sweden to buy new submarines following suspected incursion

Sweden says it has decided to order two new submarines in an attempt to reinforce its armed forces months after a futile hunt by Sweden’s navy for an alleged mini-sub in the Stockholm archipelago.

In a statement on Thursday, Sweden’s Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said, "The order... will ensure Sweden's underwater capacity beyond 2030.”

"Underwater capacity is a central part of Sweden's defense in peace time, as well as during emergencies and war," the statement read.

The two A26 type submarines, which are expected to be constructed by Saab Kockums company, will reportedly cost up to 8.2 billion Swedish kronor (USD 945 million).

The subs are also set to be delivered by 2022 at the latest.

The ministry’s statement came one week after the Swedish government announced a 6.2-billion-Swedish-kronor (USD 719 million) hike in defense spending.

In October last year, Sweden conducted a massive naval operation for a week to hunt for a mini-sub, which was said to be Russian. The search came following sightings of foreign undersea activity in the archipelago off Stockholm.

Sweden’s navy, however, cancelled its operation after finding no trace of the suspected Russian submarine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry also rejected claims that one of its vessels was in in the waters off Stockholm and dismissed the Swedish navy’s week-long search as a “tragicomedy”.

SSM/KA/SS

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