Sweden Adds HIMARS to NATO’s Northern Flank—and Wants Its Ammunition Made at Home

Sweden will acquire US-made HIMARS rocket artillery in a deal worth roughly $729 million, while simultaneously deepening cooperation with Finland and exploring domestic production of the long-range Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM.

The Swedish government announced the procurement on September 7, with the first Lockheed Martin-built systems expected to arrive in 2027.

The purchase will be financed through the Swedish Armed Forces’ investment plan and the country’s 2025-2030 defense program.

Swedish officials say HIMARS will give the army a long-range precision-strike capability it currently lacks, complementing its Archer self-propelled artillery and mortar systems while increasing interoperability with other NATO forces.

According to Swedish broadcaster SVT, the package covers slightly more than 10 HIMARS launchers along with a large quantity of GMLRS guided rockets. The government did not publicly disclose the exact number of launchers.

The acquisition also comes with a new Swedish-Finnish cooperation agreement covering rocket artillery.

Finland already operates the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, which uses many of the same munitions and components as HIMARS. The two countries plan to cooperate on training, capability development, maintenance, production and security of supply.

For Sweden, that means access to expertise Finland has spent years developing around rocket artillery rather than having to build the entire operating concept from scratch.

Sweden’s HIMARS deal could also grow into something considerably bigger than an import program.

Saab and Lockheed Martin have signed a letter of intent covering potential integration of Saab’s Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb, or GLSDB, and expanded cooperation on ammunition production in Sweden.

SVT reported that the companies are also exploring Swedish production of PrSM, Lockheed Martin’s newest long-range precision-strike missile.

PrSM is being introduced as the successor to ATACMS and is designed for launch from both HIMARS and the tracked M270 system. Current versions can strike targets at roughly 500 kilometers, or about 310 miles, with future variants expected to extend that reach further.

A HIMARS launcher can carry two PrSM missiles at once, compared with one ATACMS, or alternatively carry a pod containing six GMLRS rockets.

Domestic PrSM production would therefore give Sweden not only a new long-range weapon but also greater control over the supply of some of the most sought-after precision munitions in NATO.

That issue has become increasingly important amid global shortages of rocket-artillery ammunition.

The Swedish government separately said Saab and Lockheed Martin are exploring broader ammunition production for HIMARS and other weapons systems, including Patriot air defense.

Sweden has not yet specified exactly which additional missile types could eventually be manufactured domestically.

Previously, reports emerged that American defense company Lockheed Martin and Germany’s Rheinmetall have agreed to establish the first production facility for ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles outside the United States, with manufacturing set to take place at Rheinmetall’s plant in Unterlüß, Germany.

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