From Strategy to Operational Capability – How Can Sweden Effectively Strengthen its Defence?

Hear Svekon’s Deputy CEO, Martin Frisk, share Svekon’s perspective on how Sweden can effectively move from strategy to operational defence capability.

PART 1, 29 APRIL 2026

Sweden’s security environment has fundamentally changed. An uncertain geopolitical landscape and Sweden’s NATO membership place new demands on a defence that must not only remain strong over the long term, but also be able to rapidly develop and deliver relevant capabilities. For Svekon, this is a critical issue. Defence capability is not built through decisions, strategies or increased funding alone. It is built by translating needs into effective solutions – at the right time, to the right level of quality and with control over the entire process, from development to delivery.

A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND A SHARED CHALLENGE

FThe Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) face a complex task. New systems must be procured, existing solutions must be further developed, and deliveries must be made at a pace that has historically been difficult to achieve.At the same time, requirements for robustness, interoperability and long-term sustainability are increasing.

“We are starting from a position shaped by many years of significant underinvestment in Sweden’s defence capability. Too little has been done for too long, and now a great deal needs to happen in a short period of time.”

Martin Frisk, Deputy CEO, Svekon

The challenge is not a lack of ambition, but how to translate that ambition into actual operational capability quickly enough.

This is where the ability to deliver becomes critical. Long lead times, dependencies on global supply chains and complex development projects risk delaying deliveries. In a changed security environment, this is a risk Sweden cannot afford to take.

At Svekon, we see this as one of the defence sector’s most important priorities going forward: establishing ways of working, partnerships and solutions that shorten the path from an identified need to delivered capability.

RAPID SWEDISH CAPABILITY REQUIRES NEW WAYS OF WORKING

To meet this challenge, the ability to rapidly build capability in Sweden is essential. This means ensuring that Sweden can produce, integrate and further develop the systems the Swedish Armed Forces need to defend our freedom – while also being able to sustain those systems over time.

It is about Sweden’s ability to:

But it also means being prepared to work differently.

Experience from ongoing conflicts clearly demonstrates the importance of being able to rapidly identify what works, learn from what does not, and translate those lessons into improved solutions.

“What really makes a difference is the ability to build on what already exists and works, feed those lessons back into industry and develop it further.”

Martin Frisk, Deputy CEO, Svekon

For us at Svekon, this is at the heart of building capability rapidly in Sweden. It is not just about the technology or the solutions themselves, but about creating an integrated process – from understanding operational needs and engineering through to production, integration, testing and delivery. When development and delivery are closely connected, Sweden can act faster. When they are separated, there is a risk of losing momentum.

A MATTER OF DELIVERY

Building this capability requires more than individual initiatives. It requires a clear focus on what already works, combined with close collaboration between government agencies, end users and industry.

Effective delivery means being able to:

When these elements are closely connected, the path from identified need to delivery can be shortened. When they are not, lead times risk becoming longer than the situation allows.

Svekon plays an important role in this part of the delivery chain. We work closely with both development and production, while maintaining a strong understanding of the practical requirements that determine whether a solution will actually work in its intended operational environment. Our strength lies in our ability to take responsibility for the entire process – understanding the need, developing the solution and helping ensure that it can be delivered with the right quality, at the required pace and with a long-term perspective.

DELIVERING RELEVANT CAPABILITY HERE AND NOW

RThe Swedish Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy sets out a clear direction: greater security of supply, increased domestic production and closer cooperation between government and industry. But strategies alone do not create capability. It is implementation that turns them into tangible results.

Ultimately, strengthening Sweden’s defence is about turning strategy into reality. It requires pace, collaboration and the ability to move from an identified need to a complete solution.

This is where Svekon operates.

We operate at the intersection of development and delivery, where ideas, requirements and needs are turned into effective systems. By taking responsibility for the entire process, we can help shorten lead times, strengthen Sweden’s ability to deliver and create solutions that make a difference here and now.

In this context, creating a better tomorrow is about more than technology. It is about responsibility, trust and the ability to deliver when it matters most.