Forces: April 10, 2000

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Sweden is reorganizing its military, reducing it from a force designed to stop a Soviet invasion to a force able to maintain Sweden's interests and preserve a military knowledge base against any future developments. The Army will be cut to six brigades (one Arctic, five mechanized), the Air Force to 12 squadrons (all equipped with the JAS39 Gryphon), and the Navy to a dozen warships (six Visbys, four Goteborgs, two Stockholms) and five submarines (three Gotland and two Vastergotland). The military will continue to rely on conscription, but most conscripts will take only brief training and join reserve units. The primary operational missions will be peacekeeping duties.--Stephen V Cole