Space Division (Sweden)

The Defence Act of 2020 tasked the Swedish Air Force with developing national defence capabilities in space, reflecting a growing recognition of the strategic importance of the domain and the need to safeguard national sovereignty.^[2][3] As a result, the Space Division was formally established in 2023.^[3]

In October 2024 the Swedish government allocated approximately SEK 1 billion to strengthen national space capability, with a focus on infrastructure for rapid launch and the ability to replace satellites if needed.^[4][5] This decision aimed to ensure resilience and secure access to space-based services for the armed forces.

On 16 August 2024 the Space Division’s first satellite, GNA-3, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.^[6][7] Developed in cooperation with the Swedish Space Corporation and the Defence Research Agency, GNA-3 serves as a technology demonstrator for secure communications and satellite operations.^[6][5] The launch marked Sweden's first dedicated military satellite and represented a major step in building national space competence.^[8]

The Space Division is responsible for the Swedish Armed Forces' activities in the space domain. Its primary tasks include maintaining space situational awareness, providing satellite communications and intelligence support, and developing national competence in military space operations.^[7][2] The division also represents Sweden in international cooperation on space security, working with allied and partner nations as well as civilian organisations.^[7][9]