FMV has signed an agreement with SSC Space to establish satellite launch capability at the Esrange Space Center. The new capability will provide the Swedish Armed Forces with the capacity and availability to launch their own satellites into orbit.
Valued at SEK 209 million, the agreement lays the groundwork for the capability to be in place by 2028.
Carl-Fredrik Edström comments:
“The ability to launch satellites into orbit strengthens Sweden’s position as a space nation,” said Carl-Fredrik Edström, Head of FMV’s Aviation and Space Division.
The contract covers the systems and infrastructure required to support secure and reliable satellite launches from Esrange for the Swedish Armed Forces, as well as for partners and allies.
Edström said the agreement marks an important milestone in the development of Sweden’s satellite launch capability and reinforces the country’s ambitions in the space sector.
In 2023, the Swedish government decided to allocate around SEK 1 billion to the Swedish Armed Forces through to 2032 to strengthen Sweden’s space capability. This includes improving the Armed Forces’ space situational awareness in collaboration with SSC Space, expanding infrastructure at Esrange, and enabling the launch of a number of Swedish Armed Forces satellites.
FMV and SSC Space Collaboration
An initial collaboration between FMV and SSC Space for the project was established in December 2024.
The development of a national satellite launch capability is expected to improve Swedish and European control over, and access to, the space domain for both defence and commercial purposes.
