Defense must practice paying for itself

Defense must practice paying for itself

Published: Less than 20 min ago

full screenDuring a war, it is far from certain that normal payment systems will work. Archive image. Photo: Bertil Ericson/TT

Much in society is turned on its head during a crisis or war, even the payment systems. During the large military exercise Aurora 23 this spring, one part is therefore to buy goods and services with the help of requisition.

Electricity supply is a target for an attacker in war, as is disrupting other vital societal functions. Then it can get messy and time-consuming if normal purchasing routines and payment cards don’t work.

Now the personnel of the Armed Forces must practice how they should do when purchasing goods and services with a requisition.

“We want the cash register staff at a gas station to feel safe and calm that purchasing with requisition is a purchasing method accepted by the Armed Forces. It must be clear how the suppliers must check our personnel and how they must then invoice the Armed Forces,” says coordinator Johan Eriksson at the Armed Forces’ logistics in a press release.

The armed forces have previously practiced parts of the procurement process. This year’s exercise focuses on checking who uses the requisition and the information to the suppliers.

About 26,000 people from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Home Guard are participating along with military units from 14 other countries.

Aurora 23 takes place in April–May. It is the largest national exercise of its kind in over 25 years and will be felt mainly in southern Sweden.

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