Sweden buys more Finnish-made assault rifles

The Swedish military has placed an order for a further 22,500 assault rifles under a framework agreement with Finnish manufacturer Sako.

A reservist firing a NATO-compatible assault rifle during a Finnish Defense Forces demonstration in June 2023. Image: Jaani Lampinen / Yle

The Swedish Armed Forces are buying more AK 24 assault rifles from the Finnish company Sako.

Of the 22,500 assault rifles currently on order, 7,500 will be delivered next year and the remaining 15,000 the year after.

The newspaper Democrats reported on Tuesday that the Swedish military purchased the new weapon type, which bears the designation Automatkarbin 24 (AK 24), from Sako several years ago for testing. This fall, the AK 24 was officially put into use by the Swedish Armed Forces. According to the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, 7,300 weapons ordered in Finland will be distributed to troops this year.

The Sako weapon, which is based on the American AR-15, is chambered in 5.56 NATO caliber. It will replace the standard Swedish assault rifle of the same caliber, the AK5, made by the Belgian FN, which has been in use since 1986.

The parties have not disclosed the purchase price. Finland and Sweden signed a framework agreement last year with Sako for the joint purchase of small arms, aimed at achieving volume price advantages.

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