The Swedish Armed Forces will increase the number of military conscripts from next year, and for the first time will train 'cyber soldiers' to defend the country from possible cyber attacks.
The biggest Swedish military exercise in over 20 years has started in Gothenburg, with French and US air defence units as well as other overseas troops joining the Swedes in the Aurora 17 drill of more than 20,000 military personnel.
Sweden's coalition government has agreed a new defence deal worth 2.7 billion kronor ($334 million) per year with two of the centre-right opposition parties.
As Sweden decides whether to bring back compulsory military service, defence expert Johanne Hildebrandt tells The Local that Sweden would be much better off following Norway's "weak conscription" model.
The Swedish armed forces will not be held responsible for Afghan interpreters who are no longer in the employ of its Isaf troops, it was reported on Tuesday.
Seven of ten soldiers in Sweden's all-volunteer military drop out before their contracts expire, a retention rate below the worst predictions calculated when Sweden scrapped mandatory conscription.
Fahim spent four years as a translator with the Swedish Armed Forces in northern Afghanistan. He claims insurgents still want to kill him, but his appeal for asylum in Sweden has so far been met with silence.
The opposition Social Democrats have said Sweden should ramp up its cooperation with Nato, by allowing the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) to train with its rapid response unit.
An ad campaign by the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) has split commentators in two camps over whether it denigrates normal citizens in its attempt to attract new recruits.
Swedish soldiers are not allowed to wear the light beige desert uniform, used in Afghanistan, while at home on leave or even on the plane. The pesticide, known as <i>permethrin</i>, which the uniforms are impregnated with, has been deemed too dangerous for the public. However, the Swedish Armed Forces say the uniforms are safe for the soldiers.
A Swedish soldier who filmed his colleagues at work in a restricted area and then posted the footage on Facebook is now facing charges of crimes against national security and a potential dismissal from the Armed Forces.
The doctoral programme in the Swedish Armed Forces has come under fire after the 220 million kronor ($32.7 million) project has only resulted in two working graduates since the programme’s inception in 1992.
Sweden’s armed forces would not be able to defend Sweden should the need arise, according to experts, who point to the lack of protection against radiation, chemical and biological warfare, and the needs for field hospitals and helicopter training.
Kitchen staff at the Swedish military base in Afghanistan have been working under "slave-like conditions", being forced to pay for employment, according to a report by Swedish daily Expressen.
