Future of the Swedish Navy

Initially intended to coastal defense, but things will change...

Majors Thanks to "Per-Nordenberg" for his BIG help :)

Cartography
Coastlines:
3218 km (2000 mi); Of the entire Swedish land aera, 39,960 km² (8.69%), were of Water (95 700+ lakes/rivers).

Personnal Strength (max):
Navy: 4,280; Naval brigade: 1,300

5 Submarines (+ 2 planned) :
2 A-26
1900 tons, in advanced stage of planning, to be delivered 2018-19 and replace the two Södermanland boats.

3 Gotland A-19
(Gotland, Halland, Uppland), commissioned 1999, 60,6 meters, Stirling AIP, Gotland to be decommissioned in the near future (and sold to Singapore?), Halland and Uppland to go through a mid-life modernization 2010-12, to be retired 2035 (and replaced by a further two A-26 boats?).

2 Södermanland modified A-17
(Södermanland, Östergötland), commissioned 1989-90, completely rebuilt and lengthened with Stirling AIP module 2003-04, to be retired 2018-19 and replaced by the two A-26 boats, might be sold to Singapore (RSN already have two near sisters).

6 (3 being completed, + 2 planned, + 2 in reserve) corvettes:
2 K40
1500-2800 tons, to be delivered mid 2020's and replace the two modernized Göteborg corvettes.

2 (+3 on trials) Visby
(Helsingborg, Härnösand), 640 tons, 73 meters, commissioned in 2010 in version 4 without missiles or torpedoes, to be outfitted in final version 5 with SSM and torpedoes 2012-13. (Visby, Nyköping, Karlstad), 640 tons, 73 meters, to be commissioned in version 5 with SSM and torpedoes 2012-13.

2 (+2 reserve) Göteborg
(Gävle, Sundsvall), 400 tons, 57 meters, commissioned 1991 and 1993, planned go through a mid-life modernization with somewhat reduced ambition in 2012-13, to be retired mid 2020's.[(Göteborg, Kalmar), 400 tons, 57 meters, commissioned in 1990-91, decommissioned 2005-06 and laid up in reserve, planned to be converted to surveillance boats without SSM and torpedoes to replace/complement an old surveillance boat and 12 Tapper coastal patrol boats mid 2010's.]

2 Stockholm
(Stockholm, Malmö), 380 tons, 50 meters, commissioned in 1985, completely rebuilt and modernized in 2000-02, to be retired mid 2010's.

1 Patrol ship:
1 Carlskrona
(Carlskrona), 3550 tons, 105,7 meters, commissioned 1982 as minelayer and midshipmen training ship, converted to command ship 2002-03, converted to patrol ship 2009-10, to be converted to support ship, to be retired 2018.

1 Surveillance boat:
1 Jägaren (Jägaren)
150 tons, 36,5 meters, commissioned 1972, originally built as prototype for the Hugin class fast patrol boats, converted to surveillance boat 1988 with reduced armament, sensors, machinery and crew, to be retired mid 2010's.

12 Coastal patrol boats:
12 Tapper
(Tapper, Djärv, Dristig, Händig, Trygg, Modig, Hurtig, Rapp, Stolt, Ärlig, Munter, Orädd), 60 tons, 22 meters, commissioned 1993-99, equipped with ASW sensors and weapons, to be retired 2018-2024?

3 Coastal minelayers:
1 Furusund
(Furusund), 240 tons, 30 meters, commissioned 1983, modified and mainly used as diving and salvage vessel, to be retired mid or late 2010's?.

2 MUL 12 type
(Grundsund, Fårösund), 245 tons, 31 meters, commissioned 1952-56, Grundsund belong to Naval Brigade, to be retired mid 2010's?

7 Minehunters/sweepers:
5 Koster
(Koster, Kullen, Vinga, Ven, Ulvön), 360 tons, 47,5 meters, commissioned in 1986-92, mid-life modernization in 2008-10, to be retired 2028-30.

2 Styrsö
(Styrsö, Skaftö), 200 tons, 36 meters, commissioned in 1996-97, were to go through a mid-life modernization but will now be phased out.

2 Mine clearence diver support ships:
2 Spårö
(Spårö, Sturkö), 205 tons, 36 meters, commissioned in 1996-97, rebuilt as mine clearence divers support ships in 2004-05 while retaining minehunting capability, to be retired 2020-21?

1 Drone minesweeper:
1 MRD-STOR
(Sökaren), 129 tons, 26 meters, commissioned in 2001, used for trials.

5 Drone mine countermeasures craft:
5 SAM 01
(SAM 01, SAM 02, SAM 03, SAM 04, SAM 05), 20 tons, 18 meters, commissioned in 1983 (SAM 01-02, 04) and 1992 (SAM 03 and 05), radio-controlled drones.

1 Mine warfare tender:
1 Ägir
(Ägir), 240 tons, 24,5 meters, commissioned 1984.

1 Intelligence collection ship:
1 Orion
(Orion), 1400 tons, 61,3 meters, commissioned in 1984, limited life extension 2010 for another 5-6 years.

2 (1 planned + 1 in reserve) support ships:
1 L 10 planned
13000 - 15000 tons, 145 - 160 meters, with limited amphibious and helicopter capability, to replace Trossö mid 2010's.[(Visborg). 2590 tons, 92 meters, commissioned as minelayer in 1976, converted to support ship 1998, decommissioned 2010, possibly to be sold to Chile.]

1 support tender:
1 Trossö
(Trossö), 2554 tons, 74,5 meters, commissioned 1988 as a Soviet oceanographic ship, bought from Estonia and converted to support tender 1997, to be replaced by L 10 mid 2010's.

1 Submarine rescue and salvage ship:
1 Belos
(Belos), 5600 tons, 105 meters, commissioned in 1985 as an oilfield supply and diver support vessel, bought 1992 and converted.

2 sonobuoy monitoring boats:
2 Ejdern
(Ejdern, Krickan), 36 tons, 19 meters, commissioned in 1991 and decommissioned in 2004 (together with two sisters), apparently recommissioned since.

7 training ships:

2 Gladan
(Gladan, Falken), 225 tons, 39 meters, sail-training schooners commissioned in 1947, used for training of cadets.

5 Altair
(Altair, Antares, Arcturus, Argo, Astrea), 85 tons, 26 meters, commissioned 2008-09, can be quickly converted for patrol or for sonobuoy monitoring, to be retired 2033-34.

~140 Combat boats:
~140 CB 90H
(803-907), 20,5 tons, 15,9 meters, commissioned 1991-97, belong to Naval Brigade, to start retire late 2010's?

Naval aviation:
Helicopters:
- Up to 5 NH 90 NFH ordered, to be delivered in 2014-15.
- 8 A-109 Agusta (can be temporarily based on the Visby corvettes)
(In addition some of the Air Force Super Pumas can be available for search and rescue)

The Swedish navy, despite its small size and geographic location (Restricted and Shallow Baltic Sea), has always had high-tech ships and equipment.

Historically, the Navy was directed to a coastal fleet. But the next acquisition programs (heavy corvettes/ supply vessels) will begin to change that.

The "Future of the Russian Navy" (Part 1 & 2) is "keel laid down" and in "advanced building process" for months, but personnal problems prevent me continually to make this blog much more seriously/deeply.
Also note that despite my problems, I have many ideas to improve this blog. Facebook & Twitter "Combat-Fleets" accounts are already launched, but I lack time to feed them regularly !
Be Patient, thanks ;)