Most electronic warfare pylons on aircraft are critical even at the operational level, as the ability to counter modern air defences is already an operational necessity. A patch must be installed on each of these containers after analysing interference and exposure over the past few months. The same applies to radar systems.
If all of this can be remotely disabled, it means that purchasing an aircraft or a pylon does not equate to ownership – they are effectively rented if Washington can halt support for political reasons. And the EU imports most of its pylons from the US.
It is therefore unsurprising that the Western world has reacted to Donald Trump’s actions and methods. After Portugal, Turkey also abandoned plans to purchase F-35s and shifted its focus to acquiring aircraft from the EU.
Following the trade war and the imposition of protective duties on Ford car parts and electricity, Canada, as expected, has also begun considering the Swedish Gripen, manufactured by Saab, as an alternative to Lockheed Martin’s F-35. This is despite the fact that Canada has already paid for the first 16 F-35s and had planned to purchase 88 fighters for $14.2 billion.
Now, Germany has initiated a parliamentary debate: should their main ally have the power to remotely disable weapons, or should they also opt for Sweden’s Gripen? In 2022, Germany signed a contract to purchase 35 F-35s worth $10 billion.
This is the new administration’s DOGE and MAGA in the defence industry.
It is one thing for Switzerland to wait five years for the first aircraft to be rolled out; it is quite another to know that Washington could strip it of half its functions at any time. As critics of the purchase have put it: “The CIA will never leave our cubicles”.
Of course, fifth-generation aircraft remain state-of-the-art, but an unreliable supplier presents a serious risk. The choice between Sweden or France’s 4+ generation fighters and the whims of eccentric billionaires in power in the US is becoming clear.
Meanwhile, Sweden is capitalising on Washington’s actions against its partners – not just in combat aviation, but also by expanding the production of self-propelled artillery systems, having successfully tested its Archers in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
BAE Systems Bofors is currently producing 48 self-propelled artillery systems for the Swedish army to compensate for those transferred to Ukraine and the UK (as Britain urgently sent most of its artillery systems to Ukraine, and Sweden filled the gap from its own stock).
The latest $300 million aid package for Ukraine includes 18 Archer self-propelled artillery systems and five Saab ARTHUR radars.
Germany’s new RMMV HX2 8×8 chassis, developed by Rheinmetall, is equipped with modular armour kits, mine protection, and fire suppression systems capable of withstanding large debris impacts.
Stockholm is actively integrating with the much larger German defence industry to gain access to scalable production batches, spare parts, and repairs in case of further escalation.
To date, Sweden and Norway have signed a framework agreement for the purchase of approximately 2,000 German heavy vehicles, including logistics equipment, Patriot air defence systems, and armoured chassis for self-propelled artillery.
Sweden is eager to join the artillery coalition for Ukraine to ensure interoperability with other partners, secure interchangeable barrels, and increase shell production.
This includes both investment in domestic production – such as Bohdan guns and spare barrels – and the transfer of equipment.
For example, Ukraine has received ARTHUR counter-battery radars from Norway, the UK, and Sweden, which have been upgraded based on their use by the Ukrainian Defence Forces. Working alongside long-range artillery, they can effectively target enemy cannon and rocket artillery 30–60 km behind the front lines – especially when paired with an Archer firing high-precision Excalibur shells.
Out of the eight Ukrainian Archers, two have sustained combat damage, but they remain repairable. The guns have proven highly effective, particularly in counter-battery warfare. They can fire a “burst” of shells at a single target, deploy “bonus” rounds to strike heavily armoured vehicles – including tanks – and transition from combat to a marching position in record time. Soldiers of the 45th Brigade report that the gun is compatible with shells from various manufacturers but is sensitive to high-explosive charges.
BAE Systems Bofors is now on the verge of signing a contract with Switzerland – most likely after demonstrating to customers just how well its weapons have performed against the so-called “second army of the world.”
In a few years, Ukraine will have one of the strongest air defences on the continent and one of the strongest artillery schools, not only in terms of competence but also in terms of technology. Let me repeat: all five European manufacturers of self-propelled artillery systems are overwhelmed with orders for Ukraine for many years to come. And even the production of Archer, one of the most technologically advanced and complex systems to manufacture, is being increased in our interests.