The Army is to be faster to mobilize
The Army's new operation becomes known the same week that Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has gone out and warned that Russia can get ready to attack more countries.
– Unfortunately, we are at a time where we have to relate to it being a conceivable scenario, she said to TTand called for rapid upgrading in Europe.
Other leaders, such as Britain's Keir Starmer, also want to strengthen the defense.
And just speed is something that the army manager also emphasizes in Operation S: t Göran – an extensive change work, where the name is chosen with care.
– We want to kill dragons, and most people live in our own culture. It's about breaking slow processes. We should not do as we always did. We should be faster, says Jonny Lindfors.
The operation has several goals, but one of the overall is to increase the army's mobilization capacity. Mobilization is the process that means that civilian citizens are called in, receive weapons and uniform and together form the various war associations that will defend the country.
– We are good at training the dressings in the forest and in the front, but to get there we have to practice mobilizing as well, says Jonny Lindfors.
A large part shopping About getting the army's equipment. In the late 1990s, most people believed in peace. The Armed Forces were lost, and to save money, the equipment was gathered at central locations in the country. But to continue so would sink in mobilization, and that is what the army wants to change.
– For example, we have collected all uniforms in a central clothing store. They should be sent out. We have collected wheel vehicles at various storage places in Sweden to facilitate service. They will also be sent out to their right places, says Jonny Lindfors.
St Göran operation also means ensuring that the equipment works, and that nothing is missing. For a long time, the Armed Forces have borrowed spare parts of older vehicles to get the newer ones to roll, according to the army chief.
– We have a large maintenance debt that we have built on us for thirty years. We simply have not been able to afford to maintain all equipment, says Jonny Lindfors.
But with that The new defense decision will receive a contribution of more than SEK 170 billion over the next five years. It should also give more soldiers. By 2030, the Swedish defense will consist of between 100,000 and 120,000 people, according to Lindfors.
For the army, four brigades, with about 5,000 soldiers in each, should be ready then. In addition, a combat group and a divisional leadership.
– But that's just the tip of the army. There are many associations behind, such as logistics, healthcare, hunters and military police, says Jonny Lindfors.
At the same time, play will come that the defense budget should be increased more, when US President Trump says Europe will take care of more of its own security.
But the question is whether the Armed Forces can grow faster than you already do. DN previously reported that the defense now gets return two billion to the statebecause you couldn't get rid of all the money.
The army chief still believes that the Armed Forces can be able to become bigger and stronger with new additions.
– For my own part, I say yes. But not if we use the same bureaucratic processes and methods that we have today. All these issues are will -controlled, so it goes, says Jonny Lindfors.
