Sweden’s military will deploy Gripen fighter jets and a corvette warship to help monitor and protect Finnish territory until at least the end of 2026, Finland’s Defence Forces said on Friday.
The deployment follows a request from Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometre eastern border with Russia, as Helsinki strengthens surveillance and defence capabilities amid heightened regional security concerns.
Finland’s Defence Forces said the Swedish aircraft would strengthen air surveillance and allow Finnish forces to focus their own resources on responding to potential violations and security incidents.
Sweden and Finland, both among NATO’s newest members, have maintained close bilateral defence cooperation. Their military relationship has expanded significantly since both countries joined the alliance in response to growing security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The deployment of Swedish military assets is expected to improve Finland’s ability to monitor its airspace and surrounding territory while providing additional capacity to respond to potential threats.
The move also highlights the growing importance of Nordic defence cooperation within NATO as Finland and Sweden work together to strengthen security along the alliance’s northern and eastern flanks.
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