At our invitation, the co-chair of the Australian Swedish Defence Capability and Materiel Cooperation Committee and Head of Strategies and Future Systems in the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), Rear Admiral Göran Larsbrink of the Royal Swedish Navy, visited Australia recently to attend PACIFIC 2006. The visit highlighted how far the Defence Materiel Cooperation relationship between the two countries has progressed over the last few years.

Links between the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) and the RAN developed from 1983 as a result of the Collins Class Submarine Project. The conduit was through the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) which roughly equates to DMO except that FMV, although a Government instrument, is not part of the Swedish Ministry of Defence. Over the period of the submarine project, FMV provided support and services on a range of technical issues and facilitated technology transfer between Swedish and Australian industries. Their assistance was valuable in supporting the RAN’s dealings with Kockums, the submarine designer and design authority.

The defence materiel relationship between Australia and Sweden took a mammoth leap forward in September, 2005 with the signing of the revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defence Capability and Materiel Cooperation in Stockholm. This MOU completed year-long negotiations between the DMO and its Swedish counterpart FMV. The new MOU provides the overarching framework for industry and government cooperation on collaborative defence acquisitions, not just maritime, between the two countries.

Subsequent to that, the first MOU Materiel talks were held soon after on 3 November 2005 in Canberra. The outcomes from that meeting demonstrated a willingness on both sides to cooperate on materiel activities for mutual benefit. Of particular note was the willingness to exchange information on indirect fire systems capability and submarine safety issues.

Rear Admiral Larsbink spoke about the relationship at PACIFIC 2006.

‘Both Sweden and Australia are small countries, population wise, so we both have a lot to gain through sound bilateral cooperation. In addition, we both have development needs, which means we can share costs, timetables, risks and knowledge,’ said Rear Admiral Larsbink.

‘Cooperation is based on government to government and industry to industry cooperation, making it easier for our countries to work together.’

The next materiel MOU talks between Australia and Sweden are scheduled to take place in October this year in Sweden.

Swedish guest: co-chair of the Australian Swedish Defence Capability and Materiel Cooperation Committee, Rear Admiral Larsbrink of the Royal Swedish Navy attends PACIFIC 2006 in Sydney.