Sweden is keen to engage in the new European Long Range Strike Approach (ELSA) program, according to Defense Minister Pål Jonson, who highlighted potential industrial contributions from companies such as Saab and MBDA. Speaking from Qatar, Jonson stated, “The companies have to speak for themselves. But of course, Saab has capabilities. So that could certainly be an option. Of course, I’d see strong participation from MBDA also.”
Launched in July 2024 by France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, the ELSA initiative aims to create a ground-launched cruise missile with an operational range between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers—a range previously restricted by the US and Russia under the Cold War INF Treaty until its dissolution in 2019.
The UK has also joined the initiative, with Jonson signing a letter of intent for Sweden’s participation at the NATO defense ministers meeting on October 18. While Sweden is not currently focusing on ground-based strike capabilities, Jonson emphasized that the ELSA program could be relevant to aerial and naval operations, which are more aligned with Sweden’s priorities.
“The missile will likely be compatible with all the alliance’s aircraft, surface vessels with cruise missile launch capabilities, and simple ground launch trucks,” stated William Alberque, former director of arms control at NATO.
Saab is working on advanced military assets, including next-generation corvettes, fighter jets, and submarines. Although Jonson mentioned that the new submarines wouldn’t include long-range strike capabilities, he noted that Sweden is interested in incorporating such capabilities into other modern platforms. “We are developing long-range strike capabilities, predominantly for the air force,” he added.
Jonson also addressed strategic concerns revealed by the war in Ukraine, pointing out significant deficiencies in NATO’s long-range strike capabilities. “The lesson learned from the war in Ukraine is that long-range strike capabilities are becoming increasingly important on the battlefield, and of course, also with stronger air defense capabilities,” he remarked.
Sweden’s defense budget is set to reach 2.4 percent of its GDP next year and 2.6 percent by 2028, exceeding NATO’s minimum defense spending target. However, Jonson indicated it is too soon to estimate when ELSA might become operational, stating, “We joined this project a few weeks ago. Now our ambition is deepened interaction between our government agencies, but also the industry.”
When asked if ELSA could be ready within five years, he expressed optimism: “I don’t exclude that possibility.”
During his trip to the Middle East, Jonson discussed enhanced situational awareness in air and maritime realms with Qatar’s defense leaders. He pointed out Saab’s GlobalEye platform as a potential solution for Qatar’s needs. However, he emphasized that their discussions were broad and exploratory.
In September, Saab successfully delivered a GlobalEye to the United Arab Emirates, marking the fifth of its series of Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft delivered since 2020.
