The Swedish government has cleared the Swedish Armed Forces to acquire the US-built M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, under a programme estimated at around 7 billion Swedish kronor ($727 million). The first launchers are expected to begin arriving in 2027. Sweden plans to use HIMARS alongside its existing tube-artillery capability, particularly the Archer self-propelled howitzer fleet, giving the Army an additional long-range precision-fire option.The purchase forms part of a wider expansion of Swedish artillery capabilities under the Defence Resolution 2025–2030. Following Sweden’s entry into NATO and the changing security environment created by Russia’s war against Ukraine, Stockholm intends to establish two additional artillery battalions as well as a new rocket-artillery unit. Sweden has already invested heavily in Archer systems, ordering 48 Archer 8×8 howitzers from BAE Systems in September 2023 and adding another 18 systems in 2025. Its existing fleet of 24 Archer 6×6 vehicles is also being upgraded to the Version C standard.Authorities have not announced the final number of HIMARS launchers to be purchased. However, Sweden had previously sought approval to acquire up to 20 systems with associated ammunition and support equipment, and the US State Department approved the potential sale in March.Sweden is also strengthening regional cooperation with Finland on rocket artillery. A new agreement covers areas including training, education, capability development, maintenance, supply security and production. Finland’s experience with its 41 M270 MLRS launchers will be particularly useful because the M270 and HIMARS share major elements of the MLRS family of munitions and components.In a separate industrial development, Lockheed Martin and Saab have agreed to explore cooperation involving potential integration of Saab’s Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb and future munition production for HIMARS, as well as other systems such as Patriot. GLSDB offers greater reach than standard GMLRS rockets and can use a maneuverable flight profile to approach targets from different directions, potentially increasing tactical flexibility.
