Swedish nuclear weapon program
Encyclopedia
During the 20th century Sweden
had programs for both Nuclear and Chemical weapons. During the first decades of the Cold War
a nuclear weapon program was active. No weapon was ever deployed and in the 1960s the political landscape and budgetary problems questioned the use of these weapons and by the mid 1970s all plans for weapons of mass destruction had been scrapped.
and the American nuclear bombing
of the Japan
ese cities Hiroshima
and Nagasaki.
In the early years after the war Sweden made a decision to become a neutral power
that could defend itself militarily against any invading power. The biggest threats to Sweden were Soviet nuclear capabilities
and in the late 1940s and 1950s much research was made into nuclear weapons.
In 1948 the first solid plans on how to create an atomic weapon was presented to the FOI ("Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut", Swedish Defence Research Agency
). Plans were established to run a civilian nuclear power program
in parallel, using domestic uranium
resources as nuclear fuel. The Ågesta and Marviken
reactors were supposed to produce plutonium
for the weapons, while also producing energy. The Saab 36
was a planned attack aircraft that would be able to deliver nuclear weapons, and later on, submarines and aircraft like the Lansen and ultimately Viggen were considered as means of delivery as well.
All of the nuclear development activities took place at the FOI
. The plan was to produce 100 warhead
s in a timespan of ten years.
During the 1960s it was still not clear if Sweden should develop a nuclear weapon capacity. By the end of the 1960s the Swedish government
, because of military budget constraints, had to choose between a nuclear weapon or a new fighter aircraft
(the Saab 37 Viggen). The choice fell with the new fighter. All the plans for a Swedish nuclear weapon were scrapped by 1968, when Sweden signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
. In 1972 the last remnants of a plan for nuclear weapons was discontinued when the FoA stopped their experiments with plutonium.
Sweden did, however, continue with civilian nuclear power and today (2011) Sweden has 10 active nuclear reactor
s.
Sweden started researching on chemical weapons. In the 1930s Sweden's first chemical weapon program was born when developing and equipment research for sulfur mustards (mustard gas) was started. In 1940 work on the gas was temporarily halted, but by the end of World War II new programs were soon a priority for the Swedish military. Programs for both sulfur mustards and sarin gas were initiated.
In the 1960s the development of chemical weapons was highly criticized and in 1970 the Swedish government stated that it would not develop or produce any more chemical weapons. In 1994 Sweden signed the Chemical Weapons Convention
that forbids development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
had programs for both Nuclear and Chemical weapons. During the first decades of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
a nuclear weapon program was active. No weapon was ever deployed and in the 1960s the political landscape and budgetary problems questioned the use of these weapons and by the mid 1970s all plans for weapons of mass destruction had been scrapped.
Nuclear weapons
Sweden's nuclear weapon program was started after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the American nuclear bombing
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
of the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese cities Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
and Nagasaki.
In the early years after the war Sweden made a decision to become a neutral power
Neutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
that could defend itself militarily against any invading power. The biggest threats to Sweden were Soviet nuclear capabilities
Soviet atomic bomb project
The Soviet project to develop an atomic bomb , was a clandestine research and development program began during and post-World War II, in the wake of the Soviet Union's discovery of the United States' nuclear project...
and in the late 1940s and 1950s much research was made into nuclear weapons.
In 1948 the first solid plans on how to create an atomic weapon was presented to the FOI ("Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut", Swedish Defence Research Agency
Swedish Defence Research Agency
The Swedish Defence Research Agency is a Swedish government agency for defence research that reports to the Ministry of Defence. It has its headquarters in Kista, Stockholm and other locations in Grindsjön south of Stockholm, Linköping and Umeå...
). Plans were established to run a civilian nuclear power program
Nuclear power in Sweden
Sweden has an energy policy focused on hydroelectricity, which has been supplemented by nuclear power starting in 1965.The country began research into nuclear energy in 1947 with the establishment of the Atomic Energy Research Organization. In 1964, the country built its first small heavy water...
in parallel, using domestic uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
resources as nuclear fuel. The Ågesta and Marviken
R4 nuclear reactor
R4 nuclear reactor was a nuclear reactor built at Marviken and the fourth nuclear reactor built in Sweden. It was heavy water moderated and intended for the dual role of 130MWe of power generation and also plutonium production. It had a central role in the Swedish nuclear weapon program...
reactors were supposed to produce plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
for the weapons, while also producing energy. The Saab 36
Saab 36
|-See also:-References:* Berns, Lennart A36 - SAABs atombombare avslöjad, Flygrevyn issue #4, April 1991...
was a planned attack aircraft that would be able to deliver nuclear weapons, and later on, submarines and aircraft like the Lansen and ultimately Viggen were considered as means of delivery as well.
All of the nuclear development activities took place at the FOI
Swedish Defence Research Agency
The Swedish Defence Research Agency is a Swedish government agency for defence research that reports to the Ministry of Defence. It has its headquarters in Kista, Stockholm and other locations in Grindsjön south of Stockholm, Linköping and Umeå...
. The plan was to produce 100 warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
s in a timespan of ten years.
During the 1960s it was still not clear if Sweden should develop a nuclear weapon capacity. By the end of the 1960s the Swedish government
Government of Sweden
The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden is the supreme executive authority of Sweden. It consists of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. The Government is responsible for their actions to the Riksdag, which is the legislative assembly...
, because of military budget constraints, had to choose between a nuclear weapon or a new fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
(the Saab 37 Viggen). The choice fell with the new fighter. All the plans for a Swedish nuclear weapon were scrapped by 1968, when Sweden signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to...
. In 1972 the last remnants of a plan for nuclear weapons was discontinued when the FoA stopped their experiments with plutonium.
Sweden did, however, continue with civilian nuclear power and today (2011) Sweden has 10 active nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
s.
Chemical weapons
After World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Sweden started researching on chemical weapons. In the 1930s Sweden's first chemical weapon program was born when developing and equipment research for sulfur mustards (mustard gas) was started. In 1940 work on the gas was temporarily halted, but by the end of World War II new programs were soon a priority for the Swedish military. Programs for both sulfur mustards and sarin gas were initiated.
In the 1960s the development of chemical weapons was highly criticized and in 1970 the Swedish government stated that it would not develop or produce any more chemical weapons. In 1994 Sweden signed the Chemical Weapons Convention
Chemical Weapons Convention
The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction...
that forbids development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.