{"id":13884,"date":"2026-07-20T18:39:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/sweden-needs-the-u-s-to-get-satellites-in-orbit-launch-tempo-is-a-problem-space-chief-says\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T18:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:39:32","slug":"sweden-needs-the-u-s-to-get-satellites-in-orbit-launch-tempo-is-a-problem-space-chief-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/sweden-needs-the-u-s-to-get-satellites-in-orbit-launch-tempo-is-a-problem-space-chief-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweden needs the U.S. to get satellites in orbit. Launch tempo is a problem, space chief says"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LONDON\u2014<\/strong>Sweden\u2019s military just launched its first satellite in May, but its top space officer is already worried that bottlenecks at U.S. and European launch facilities could slow the development of urgently needed orbital capabilities.<\/p>\n

The satellite, built by Planet Labs and launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB, California, went up four years ahead of schedule because of the \u201csevere security situation,\u201d Swedish Armed Forces Rear Adm. Anders Sundeman, the country\u2019s space chief, told reporters during a media event here. \u201cTime is of essence.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Sweden looks to grow its space assets, it will need to rely on U.S. launch providers which are being overbooked and strained by skyrocketing military and commercial demands for new satellites.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, of course, are worrying about the limited launching capability, also, in a global scale,\u201d Swedish Armed Forces Rear Adm. Anders Sundeman, the country\u2019s space chief, told Defense One<\/em> on the sidelines of a media event here. \u201cIt is a problem for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later this year, the country plans to launch a Finnish-made ICEYE satellite, a synthetic aperture radar. In total, the military aims to have 10 operational satellites on orbit in the coming years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As orbital demands increase, it will be harder to get rides from U.S. providers into space, which is why Sweden has been working for five years to turn its main space-research center into a launch pad for orbital missions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the reason why we are keen on the launch facility in Esrange in Sweden, for example, [to] succeed,\u201d Sundeman said. \u201cThere are some other initiatives in Europe. So, we need to improve their launching capability also in a global perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

SSC Space, formerly known as the Swedish Space Corporation, is owned by the country\u2019s government. It\u2019s the European Union\u2019s first mainland spaceport. The facility will host its first orbital satellite launch, aboard Texas-based Firefly\u2019s Alpha rocket, in 2028, according to a news release.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAdding an orbital launch capability to mainland Europe will strengthen the continent\u2019s capabilities and competitiveness in the commercial space arena, while contributing to greater resilience and strategic autonomy within the defense domain,\u201d Charlotta Sund, CEO and SSC Space group president, said in last month\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

As Sweden looks to expand its footprint in space, Russia has been reportedly degrading GPS in the region.<\/p>\n

In September, the Swedish Transport Agency accused Russia of increased interference and jamming over the Baltic Sea. In 2023, there were 55 total incidents. That skyrocketed to more than 700 interferences in 2025, the BBC reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n

China previously had access to the Swedish Space Corporation\u2019s ground stations in Kiruna, Chile and Australia, according to the Secure World Foundation\u2019s Global Counterspace Capabilities report. In 2020, SSC officials said they would not renew China\u2019s contracts citing a change in the \u201cgeopolitical situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the pursuit of counterspace weapons, Sundeman said the main focus has been on its initial space assets which don\u2019t have offensive capabilities but are as \u201crobust\u201d as possible. When asked about defending its country\u2019s growing fleet, the space officer added that large constellations are one part of protecting it from adversaries in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne things is, of course, large quantity,\u201d Sundeman said. \u201cAnd also, it\u2019s the necessity to cooperate with others, that\u2019s a kind of protection by itself.\u201d\n\n<\/svg><\/p>\n<\/div>\n