Stockholm, January 11 (QNA) - The Swedish government announced that it will invest EUR 1.4 billion in ground-based air defence in order to protect population centers against any potential attacks, amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In a statement on Sunday, Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson said, "With this broad investment in air defence, we are protecting the whole of society, from our military units to urban areas and critical infrastructure."

Kristersson pointed out that the government had allocated about EUR 315 million back in November to purchase surface-to-air missiles and vehicles to deploy them in several regions of the country.

The Swedish Prime Minister added that an initial industrial order is planned for the first quarter of 2026. (QNA)