Together, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) and the Swedish Cyber Command are sharpening their competitive edge by teaming up to counter these malicious cyber activities.
"We are building enduring advantages with our Swedish counterparts by operating and sharing information as a combined cyberspace force," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander. "These are real capabilities to collectively address global security challenges, setting the course for this relationship for decades to come."
The U.S. is a highly capable NATO ally making valuable contributions to alliance operations and exercises.
In the past year, the Swedish Cyber Command has forged cyber partnerships with U.S. combatant commands and trained alongside U.S. and NATO cyber forces in exercises Austere Challenge and Cyber Coalition, NATO's largest cyber defense exercise with over 1,000 participants from 33 countries.
The Swedish delegation consisting of Swedish Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Johan Pekkari, Swedish Cyber Commander, Swedish Navy (Marines) Maj. Gen. Rikard Askstedt, the Swedish Embassy Defense Attaché, and Swedish Armed Forces Col. Thomas Höglund, the Commander of the Swedish Cyber Command, along with other members of the command was hosted by Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander from Feb. 24-25, 2025.
"This journey has been a true inspiration and development for Swedish Cyber command," said Pekkari. "Swedish CYCOM has received good advice and inspiration that will advance in the development of our collaboration."
Hensley is triple hatted as the Commander of 16th Air Force, Air Forces Cyber and Joint Forces Headquarters Cyber (Air Force) overseeing more than 49,000 personnel in 128 sites worldwide. His responsibilities comprise of executing U.S. Cyber Command directed cyberspace missions, protecting the Department of Defense's Information Network in Air Force systems and training cyberspace operators to support combatant commands.
During their visit, the Swedish Armed Forces' distinguished visitors also toured subordinate 16th Air Force units and met with leadership from the 67th Cyberspace Wing, 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 33rd Cyber Operations Squadron and the 616th Operations Center.
The U.S. military prioritizes interoperability by enabling coalitions with enhanced capabilities, new operating concepts and collaborative force planning. The Sweden Armed Forces also prioritizes this enterprise by briefing 16th Air Force personnel and subordinate units on its expertise in the Arctic region or the "High North" as it is
called in NATO.
"Sweden has specialized cyber expertise oriented on the High North and Sweden's Total Defense, including Critical Infrastructure," said Pekkari. "When combined with the U.S's depth of technological resources and cyber capabilities, the collaboration becomes a force multiplier."
Combining 16th Air Force and the Swedish Cyber Command's capabilities will make this international partnership one of the greatest strategic assets for combating cyber threats.
"16th Air Force and the U.S. military are stronger today, because of our unity between our two nations, commands, and a shared purpose to protect cyberspace," said Hensley.