Swedish nuclear weapon program

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Sweden's nuclear weapon program was started after World War II and the American nuclear bombing of Japanese 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 threat to Sweden was the Soviet nuclear weapon and in the late 1940s and 1950s much research was made on nuclear weapons. The Ågesta and Marviken reactors were supposed to produce plutonium to the weapon. The Saab 36 was a planned attack aircraft that would be able to deliver nuclear weapons.

During the 1960s it was still not clear if Sweden should develop nuclear weapon capacity. By the end of the 1960s the Swedish government, because of military budget restraints, had to choose between a nuclear weapon or a new fighter (Saab 37 Viggen). The choice fell on the new fighter and all the plans for a Swedish nuclear weapon was scrapped.

Sweden did however continue with civilian nuclear power and today (2008) Sweden has 10 active nuclear reactors.