Sweden wants 'more bang for the buck' from defence

Sweden is planning to reduce SEK900 million (USD116 million) from its Defence Materiel Administration, while research funding will be reduced by SEK500 million, as the government aims to get 'more bang for the buck' from defence spending. Most of the cuts aim at steering the armed forces from 'defence against invasion to operational defence'. The cuts were outlined in the document 'Appropriate Governance and Administration of Swedish Defence'. Defence spending in Sweden stood SEK44.5 billion in 2000, SEK43.27 billion inn 2001, SEK43.28 billion in 2003 and SEK44.15 billion in 2004.