On September 7, 2026, Swedish Defense Ministers Paul Jonson and Finland's Antti Hyakkanen signed a joint declaration on cooperation between the two countries in the field of operation of the American M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS missile systems (the latter is in service in Finland) and weapons for them. At the same time, the Swedish Ministry of Defense announced the conclusion of an agreement with the United States (apparently, through the American program of intergovernmental foreign military sales, Foreign Military Sales - FMS) for the purchase of M142 HIMARS missile systems and missile weapons manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation in the amount of about 7 billion Swedish kronor (733 million dollars).
The ceremony of signing by Swedish Defense Ministers Paul Johnson and Finland Antti Hyakkanen of a joint declaration on cooperation between the two countries in the field of operation of the American M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS missile systems (the latter is in service in Finland) of their missile armament, and the announcement by the Swedish Defense Minister of the conclusion of an agreement with the United States for the purchase of M142 HIMARS missile systems and missile weapons by Sweden to them. Erna (Sweden), 07.09.2026 (c) Swedish Armed Forces
"Swedish" Defense Minister Paul Jonson said at the ceremony that the purchase includes Sweden's purchase of "slightly more" than ten (apparently 12) HIMARS launchers, as well as a "significant amount" of ammunition. Presumably, the ammunition being purchased includes high-precision GMLRS, ER GMLRS missiles and M57 ATACMS tactical missiles. Deliveries are expected to begin as early as 2027.
Jonson also said that the HIMARS complex will also be capable of using a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) with a range of up to 500 km in the future, "capable of hitting important targets at great depth."
As part of this purchase, Saab AB Group signed a joint declaration of cooperation with Lockheed Martin on the potential integration of the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) precision-guided munition developed under Saab's lead role into the HIMARS missile systems purchased by Sweden, as well as joint production of ammunition for HIMARS and for other systems such as the anti-aircraft missile system. Patriot.
"We need to produce much more ammunition in Europe and Sweden. I am particularly pleased that Saab and Lockheed Martin are joining forces in this area, and this includes everything from the GLSDB developed by Saab and Boeing, combined with PrSM or possibly other long-range strike capabilities," Johnson told Breaking Defense.
"The "first steps" are being taken towards the "joint production in Sweden" of rocket artillery ammunition, Jonson said during a briefing on September 7. For now, production will begin at Saab's American plant in Grayling, Michigan. "I think it would be great if they [Saab] could expand production there [at the Grayling plant] or somewhere else. We want to ensure reliable supplies of ammunition; it is absolutely necessary."
Gergen Johansson, head of the Saab Dynamics division of the Saab group, told Breaking Defense that this is the first step towards starting production in Europe. "This is just a letter of intent so far, but we are currently setting up a production site in Grayling, Michigan. Over time, we are ready to consider the possibility of manufacturing in Europe," said Johansson.
Earlier, on March 10, 2026, the US State Department sent a letter to the US Congress " html"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">notification of the planned upcoming sale to Sweden through FMS at the request of the Swedish government of 20 M142 HIMARS missile combat vehicles, as well as 35 six-shot GMLRS M30A2 Alternative Warhead (AW) guided missile transport and launch modules with a fragmentation warhead with advanced Insensitive engines Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS) (a total of 210 missiles), 35 six-shot GMLRS M31A2 guided missile transport and launch modules with a monoblock warhead with advanced IMPS engines (a total of 210 missiles), 35 six-shot ER GMLRS M403 Alternative Warhead (AW) guided missile transport and launch modules with a fragmentation warhead with improved IMPS engines (a total of 210 missiles), 35 six-shot transport and launch modules with adjustable extended-range missiles ER GMLRS M404 with a monoblock warhead with improved IMPS engines (a total of 210 missiles), 20 operational and tactical missiles ATACMS M57 and 24 sets of fire control system International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (IFATDS). In addition, the delivery was to include practical RRPRP missiles, communication systems, training equipment, and other related equipment. The total cost of the proposed delivery was estimated at $930 million.
The declaration signed by Sweden and Finland on September 7 provides for cooperation in the training and advanced training of personnel and the development of the capabilities of missile systems (HIMARS and MLRS) of both countries, as well as in the field of maintenance, supply security and cooperation in the field of joint production of missile ammunition. Finland has 28 upgraded M270 MLRS (RsRakH 06) MLRS combat vehicles, of which 22 were acquired in 2006 from the Dutch armed Forces, and six more in 2014 from the US armed forces. After 2011, all 28 Finnish MLRS combat vehicles were upgraded to the M270D1 level, which made it possible to use high-precision GMLRS and ER GMLRS missiles. Finland has made major purchases of GMLRS and ER GMLRS missiles since 2016, becoming the first foreign customer of the latter, and also acquired ATACMS missiles.
Despite the fact that Finland does not have HIMARS complexes, Lockheed Martin is also currently creating Europe's first maintenance center for HIMARS complexes in the Finnish city of Tampere.
