Sweden has distributed military protection vehicles based on the Ford Ranger pickup truck for the Response-Ready Security Force (IBSS) in Östersund.
The handover is part of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration’s (FMV) effort to replace its older armed forces security vehicles.
The new platforms will support a growing number of warfighters as new military regiments are established throughout the country.
“With this vehicle, the Armed Forces get a modern vehicle fleet and good accessibility for their IBSS forces,” FMV Wheeled Vehicle Project Manager Jörgen Ericsson explained.
“The difficulty in the project is to make all users satisfied, as there are many wishes to try to take into account. But this design suits most people.”
“Some vehicles travel around 10,000 miles in a year and they need to be replaced in time to ensure operational safety.”
Vehicle Specifications
The Ford Ranger model provided to the security forces has four-wheel drive with a high/low gear, a ten-speed automatic transmission, and a 205-horsepower engine.
Although no further details were released, the pickup’s specifications match those of a Ford Ranger 2.0 EcoBlue e-4WD RA released in 2022, which measures 5 meters (16 feet) long, has a 1,000-kilogram (2,205-pound) maximum payload capacity, and a top speed of 180 kilometers (112 miles) per hour.
FMV said that the vehicle’s development from concept to launch took about one year, which was shorter than the project’s expected schedule.
“This vehicle is long awaited,” Swedish Armed Forces Representative Anders Lindell stated. “Getting a unit vehicle that looks similar regardless of unit has been a boost for the IBSS function.”
Sweden’s Latest Defense Vehicle Acquisitions
The Swedish Armed Forces received the first batch of its Terranbil 24 armored personnel carriers for varying missions in August 2024.
A month earlier, the Swedish government awarded a contract to BAE Systems for new CV90 infantry fighting vehicle variants that will replenish similar systems donated to Ukraine in defense against Russian invaders.
In March 2024, Finland-based Patria confirmed an order to deliver 321 all-terrain vehicles for the Swedish military. The deal followed the acquisition of 81 Volvo wheel loaders for the army in April.
Sweden signed another agreement in June 2023 to procure 400 Iveco light multi-purpose vehicles for the armed forces.