Currently, there is a waiting period of up to six years to receive deliveries of grenades. At the same time, the Swedish state wants to be able to quickly buy more ammunition. Partly to be able to contribute ammunition to Ukraine, partly to be able to quickly build up our own stocks.
The equation doesn’t add up, says Martin Lundmark, who researches issues related to the defense industry. It is against this background that today’s announcement from Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) should be seen – that is, that the government wants to see a threefold increase in ammunition production.
Deliveries next year
The plan is for Sweden to start receiving deliveries as early as next year.
– According to the agreement we signed, every year there is a guaranteed capacity of grenades for the Swedish part, says Björn Andersson, business development manager at Nammo.
But the agreement on expansion depends on the EU also granting funds. The hope is that the EU will cover 45 percent of the investment cost. At the same time, similar applications are being made for grants to increase capacity at Nammo’s factories in Norway and Finland.
– You pay for an extension and then you get to go first in the queue, says Martin Lundmark.
Everyone needs to step up
The factories in the three countries are specialized and make different parts of the grenade. In order for a factory to be able to increase capacity, the others also need to do so.
A message from the EU will come in March this year at the earliest. If there are no EU funds for all countries, the agreement with the Swedish state no longer applies.
– Then we are back to square one, but I hope we can find a new way forward, says Björn Andersson.