Sweden to Buy HIMARS Rocket Artillery for Around $730 Million

Sweden has authorized the purchase of Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in a deal worth around SEK 7 billion, or roughly $729–733 million.

The Swedish government announced the procurement on September 7, saying the system will provide a new long-range precision-fire capability for the Swedish Army.

The acquisition is part of Sweden’s broader effort to rapidly strengthen its military capabilities following its entry into NATO in 2024 and the deteriorating security environment in Europe.

More Than 10 HIMARS Launchers

The Swedish government has not publicly specified the exact number of launchers in its announcement. Swedish and international reporting, however, says the package includes just over 10 HIMARS launchers along with a substantial quantity of ammunition. Deliveries of the launchers and ammunition are expected to begin in 2027.

The purchase follows a U.S. approval earlier this year for a much larger potential package involving 20 HIMARS systems and associated missiles, rockets, communications equipment, training and logistics, with an estimated maximum value of $930 million. The final Swedish procurement is smaller than that original U.S. notification.

Adding Long-Range Firepower to the Swedish Army

HIMARS will give Sweden a capability it currently lacks at the Army level: highly mobile, long-range precision fires. Stockholm says the system will allow Swedish forces to operate across larger areas and engage targets at greater distances than existing conventional artillery systems.

U.S. Army HIMARS launcher stands beside precision-guided missiles, highlighting the system’s ability to employ multiple types of long-range munitions.

The new capability is intended to complement Sweden’s Archer self-propelled howitzers and other conventional artillery, rather than replace them. Swedish Army chief Maj. Gen. Johan Pekkari said the HIMARS acquisition will provide long-range precision capability that is currently absent from the Army's toolbox.

Future Precision Strike Missile Capability

The HIMARS fleet will also provide Sweden with a pathway toward future use of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said the new system will enable future employment of the weapon, which is designed to provide significantly longer-range precision strike capability.

The original U.S. notification also included GMLRS and ATACMS ammunition. The notification described HIMARS as capable of employing the MLRS family of munitions, with the proposed package covering weapons, fire-control equipment, communications systems, training and logistics support.

Saab and Lockheed Martin Plan Munitions Cooperation

Alongside the HIMARS purchase, Saab and Lockheed Martin are signing a declaration of intent covering potential integration of Saab's Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) and cooperation on production of ammunition for HIMARS and other systems, including Patriot.

Sweden sees domestic and European ammunition production as an important part of securing long-term supplies. Breaking Defense reported that initial production activity is planned at Saab's facility in Grayling, Michigan, with the possibility of expanding production into Europe later.

Sweden and Finland Deepen Rocket-Artillery Cooperation

Sweden's HIMARS purchase was announced alongside a new Swedish-Finnish declaration on rocket-artillery cooperation. The agreement covers training, education, capability development, maintenance, security of supply and potential production cooperation.

A truck-mounted HIMARS launcher prepares for operations in a tropical environment, showcasing the system’s mobility and rapid-deployment design

The partnership is particularly significant because Finland already operates the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, which uses the same broader family of ammunition and shares components with HIMARS. Finland will therefore provide Sweden with an existing regional knowledge base for training, maintenance, and sustainment.

Part of Sweden's Larger Defense Expansion

Sweden's decision reflects a broader shift toward longer-range precision fires within Northern Europe. The Swedish government has identified rocket artillery as a priority under its Total Defence Bill for 2025–2030, with the HIMARS procurement intended to establish a dedicated rocket-artillery capability.

For Sweden, HIMARS will add a highly mobile long-range strike layer alongside Archer artillery, Gripen-based capabilities and other emerging precision weapons. The first systems are scheduled to arrive in 2027, marking a major expansion of Sweden's ground-based long-range firepower.

Author: Kevin Macmellon