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[[Now that Sweden’s ascension into NATO appears closer to approval following developments during the NATO summit last week, many wonder what power Sweden’s military can bring to the alliance. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb explains more about Sweden’s military might beneath the surface of the Baltic Sea.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script SWEDEN NATO SUBMARINES
HEADLINE: Sweden’s Submarine Fleet Could Prove a Major NATO Asset
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: Thursday, 07/20/2023 at 00:01
BYLINE: Carla Babb
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: Carla Babb in Sweden
VIDEO EDITOR: Barry Unger
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Aru Pande
SCRIPT EDITORS: Jepsen, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, Reuters, AFP
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 1:56
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO: ))
[[Now that Sweden’s ascension into NATO appears closer to approval following developments during the NATO summit last week, many wonder what power Sweden’s military can bring to the alliance. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb explains more about Sweden’s military might beneath the surface of the Baltic Sea.]]
((NARRATOR))
A symbol of both stealth and strength, Swedish submarines patrol the Baltic Sea waters critical to Russia and NATO.
[[Radio: Captain Fredrik Linden is the commander of Sweden's first submarine flotilla.]]
((Capt. Fredrik Linden, Sweden's 1st Submarine Flotilla)) ((in English))
“The Baltic Sea // can be easily described with what we call the five C’s: confined, confused, contested, congested and cluttered.”
((NARRATOR))
The waters are rocky and, with an average depth of about 60 meters, too shallow for the submarines that make up most of Russia’s fleet,
((courtesy US Department of Defense))
and all of the U.S. Navy’s fleet.
((end courtesy))
((Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO))((in English)) ((Skype))
The U.S. submarines, we tend to have deep-water submarines, large nuclear power, very quiet and carrying, often carrying nuclear weapons. // What the Swedes have is more tailored to their own geographic location. // The vessels themselves are smaller and suitable for shallow waters, but also the Swedish submariners know these waters.”
((NARRATOR))
Swedish submarines have roamed the Baltic for more than 100 years, and the Swedes are more active underwater than any of their Nordic neighbors.
Sweden’s three advanced Gotland-class submarines will be joined before the turn of the decade by its two next-generation A26 submarines, which some say are among the most advanced conventional [not nuclear] subs ever built.
((Capt. Fredrik Linden, Sweden's 1st Submarine Flotilla)) ((in English))
“So I would say with five submarines, you could easily constrain the movements of your opponent.”
((NARRATOR))
That opponent, Russia. Once Sweden officially joins NATO, the only way to reach St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, by sea will be through the fairly narrow waters controlled by the alliance.
((Kurt Volker, Former US Ambassador to NATO))((in English)) ((Skype)) ((6:02-10))
“So it really creates a choke point for access to St. Petersburg, which is strategically very, very important.”
((mandatory courtesy: SAAB))
((NARRATOR))
And Sweden says its newest subs will have design features even better suited to protect pipelines and other critical seabed infrastructure,
((end courtesy))
an issue highlighted when the Nord Stream gas pipelines were damaged last year.
((CARLA BABB, VOA NEWS))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 19, 2023 22:50 EDT
Byline
Carla Babb, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
