Meet the Gotland class: Swedish understrength becomes an increasingly important factor – Sweden, a country known for its neutrality during World War II and the Cold War, actually has a strong defense industrial base that many defense analysts overlook – too bad. It has excellent fighter planes like the JAS-39 Gripen, and the Stridsvagn 122 the tank is underestimated. Now, with the war in Ukraine dragging on indefinitely, Sweden is seriously considering joining NATO. If that happens, he will rely even more on his Gotland-class submarines for the defense of the country.

It’s time to train for war

The military exercises of the Swedish submarine force are becoming more and more serious and frequent. At the end of April, Finland invited Sweden to participate in submarine warfare maneuvers in the Gulf of Finland. Sweden deployed its Gotland-class submarine Uppland for the exercise. Finland is also considering joining NATO and both countries know that the stakes are high and it is time to work together.

According to Finnish naval commander Toni Joutsia, “The exercise is part of Finland’s close cooperation with Sweden. Participating in international training activities is important because it demonstrates, maintains and develops our national defense.

It takes a joint force

Developing national defense, as the Finnish leader said, is like rehearsing a joint war with the Swedish army, air force and navy. The Gotland-class submarine will play a major role in this recipe to defend against the Russians.

Keep updating Gotland

Sweden has already granted contract with Saab in March for a “mid-life upgrade” of the Gotland-class boat called the Halland. It’s worth nearly $117 million to upgrade the submarine’s weaponry capabilities – work that will include modifications to 50 different systems.

The Gotland class consists of three diesel-electric submarines – Gotland, Uppland and Halland. The Gotlands specialize in anti-submarine warfare and surveillance and reconnaissance. They can harass enemy shipping and even lay mines. The Gotland class are not large submarines and only have a crew of 32 sailors with a modest number of torpedo tubes. They were built in the 1990s.

Gotland – Long-range propulsion which is rare on diesel-electric submarines

The boats can be diesel-electric, but they have extended range and endurance due to their Stirling engine air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. This allows a substantial advantage over other diesel-electric submarines in the world. The AIP stores oxygen and saves battery time, allowing the boat to go 20 knots when submerged and run longer underwater.

Did he really “kill” an American aircraft carrier?

Gotland is known for a thrilling feat when taking on the US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan during combat exercises in 2004. Gotland outmaneuvered escort ships and came within range of her torpedoes against Reagan, which was considered a successful strike or “sinking” of the carrier American.

NATO beckons

These exercises and modernization efforts will give the Swedish Navy even more confidence and a boost to the country’s national defense industries led by Saab and others. The Swedes would be a great addition to NATO. These Gotland subs are more than capable.

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San Diego (October 1, 2005) – The Swedish diesel attack submarine HMS Gotland transits the port of San Diego during the ÒSea and Air ParadeÓ held as part of Fleet Week San Diego 2005. The Fleet Week San Diego is a three-week tribute to Southern California area service members and their families. US Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 2nd Class Patricia R. Totemeier (Released)

During a new cold or even hot war with Russia, Sweden’s Gotland class can provide NATO allies with vital intelligence data on Vladimir Putin’s navy. Mods on the Gotlands are affordable, even for a country like Sweden that doesn’t have a huge defense budget, although they will have to spend over two percent of their gross domestic product on their military.

Gotland subs would be a good place to invest more money to improve performance.

Now as 1945 Defense and National Security Editor, Brent M. EastwoodPhD, is the author of Humans, Machines and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an emerging threat expert and former US Army infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood.