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Sweden Orders 15 000 Colt M4 Rifles from United States Amid Urgent Supply Needs.
On December 15, 2024, Sweden announced the urgent procurement of 15,000 Colt M4 rifles directly from the United States Army. This move comes as the Swedish Armed Forces face a shortage of weapons due to delays in the delivery of their previously planned replacement for the AK5 assault rifle.
Sweden announced the urgent procurement of 15,000 Colt M4 rifles directly from the United States Army. (Picture source: US DoD)
For decades, the Swedish military has relied on the AK5, a modified version of the FN FNC designed by Belgian manufacturer FN Herstal. However, this weapon has reached the end of its operational life, prompting Sweden to seek a replacement through a joint procurement program with Finland. The new rifle, known as the Automatkarbin 24 (AK24), is based on the AR-15 platform and was intended to modernize both countries’ armed forces.
Under a long-term agreement that was set to run until 2053, Sweden and Finland had opted for the Finnish manufacturer Sako (a subsidiary of the Italian company Beretta) to supply the new rifles. The aim of this collaboration was to streamline procurement, enhance interoperability between the two nations' armed forces, and generate cost savings. Finland placed an initial order worth 700,000 euros, while Sweden’s order amounted to approximately 80 million euros.
However, the process faced complications when German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch challenged the contract, claiming that it violated European Union competition regulations, specifically Directive 2009/81/EC, which governs public procurement procedures in defense and security sectors. This legal challenge caused significant delays, leaving Sweden’s military in need of an immediate solution to equip its forces.
As Sweden prepared to deploy a battalion to Latvia as part of NATO’s eastern flank reinforcement, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) found itself scrambling for alternatives to replace the aging AK5 rifles. With the AK24 deliveries delayed, the FMV sought a swift remedy by purchasing 15,000 Colt M4 rifles directly from U.S. military stocks.
Jonas Lotsne, head of land systems at the FMV, explained the urgency of the situation to Swedish public broadcaster SVT Nyheter: “We must ensure that our armed forces have access to weapons immediately. By 2030, the size of the army will be doubled, and we will need large quantities of arms.”
According to SVT Nyheter, which reviewed documents related to the purchase, the 15,000 Colt M4 rifles will be sourced directly from U.S. Army warehouses. These rifles will be issued to a wide range of personnel, from conscripts to full-time soldiers and officers, and will be used in various missions abroad, including in Latvia.
This emergency acquisition highlights Sweden’s evolving defense needs and the pressures of maintaining military readiness while navigating complex procurement challenges.