Sweden to deploy JAS 39 Gripen fighters and Visby-class corvettes to Finland

Sweden is reportedly set to send JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft and Visby-class corvettes to Finland to strengthen surveillance and safeguard Finnish territorial integrity, with particular attention on its eastern border with Russia. The support operation falls within the Nordic countries’ bilateral defence cooperation framework, while also contributing to NATO’s deterrence and defence missions in the northern region and along its eastern flank.

Sweden’s military support for Finland

Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson told Reuters: “Sweden has responded to a request from Finland to strengthen its air defence due to the deteriorating security situation.” He added that the Swedish Armed Forces could, if required, help their Finnish counterparts repel violations of Finnish territory. The minister also said Sweden could provide ground-based counter-drone equipment, in addition to combat aircraft and vessels capable of countering drones.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten), Sweden agreed to provide Finland with military support to enhance its defences against drone-related violations of its territory, following a request for assistance through joint operations. As stated in the announcement, the operation will begin in the autumn and continue throughout that period, with Swedish air and naval assets potentially including JAS 39 Gripen fighters, Visby corvettes, and radar and air-defence systems.

In greater detail, a statement from the Finnish Defence Forces (Puolustusvoimat) explains that Sweden will participate in surveillance and protection duties in the Baltic Sea region with Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft and a Swedish Navy Visby-class corvette. The capabilities of the Swedish contingent will reinforce air surveillance. The Finnish institution further noted that this bilateral cooperation arrangement will remain in force at least until the end of 2026.

Protection of Finland’s territorial integrity and NATO’s eastern flank

More broadly, cooperation between Finland and Sweden would not only strengthen the control, monitoring and security of Finnish territorial integrity, but would also support the defence of NATO’s eastern flank. This comes against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war and a growing number of unmanned aircraft incursions into Allied airspace. Försvarsmakten reported that more than 20 Romanian airspace violations by drones were recorded in August.

On 28 August, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen wrote on social media: “Today we are taking a new step in our defence cooperation with Sweden. We are expanding Finnish-Swedish cooperation to include surveillance and the protection of territorial integrity. In the future, Sweden will take part in the surveillance and protection of Finland’s territorial integrity with Air Force combat aircraft and Navy vessels. Territorial surveillance will remain under Finland’s leadership and in accordance with the powers granted by the Territorial Surveillance Act.”

The Finnish defence minister also stated that this new cooperation initiative has two aims: “First, we are strengthening our capacity to maintain enhanced surveillance over the long term in response to the threat posed by decoy drones. Ukraine continues its just defensive struggle and the risk from decoy drones appears likely to persist. Second, by deepening cooperation, we are strengthening the defence capability of Finland and NATO’s northern region in all security situations.”

Deployment of Sweden’s Gripen fighters in NATO operations

Among the key precedents for the involvement of Swedish Gripen fighters in NATO operations is their deployment in January to intercept two Su-35S fighters and a Tu-22M3 bomber from the Russian Aerospace Forces over the Baltic Sea. According to Russia’s defence ministry in Moscow, the aircraft were conducting a scheduled flight along a route through neutral airspace. Likewise, in early June, two Swedish Gripens and two French Rafales were deployed to intercept six Russian aircraft over the Baltic.

JAS 39 Gripen and Visby-class corvettes in Baltic surveillance

The planned Swedish contribution combines air and naval capabilities for the surveillance of Finland’s territory and the Baltic Sea region. Through the deployment of JAS 39 Gripen fighters, Visby-class corvettes, radar and air-defence systems, Sweden would reinforce Finland’s ability to monitor and respond to potential territorial violations.