Sweden Ballistics (Swebal) announced that it received permit approval from Sweden’s Land and Environmental Court to build a TNT production facility in Nora, the country's first since 1998. The defense startup expects to begin construction in 2026 and reach full production of up to 4,500 metric tons of TNT annually by 2028.
Swebal stated that the facility will operate 24 hours per day, use a continuous nitration process and source materials and equipment within a 340-mile radius. The plant will manufacture 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene used in artillery shells, missiles and rockets, drones, grenades and mortars.
"This approval is a fundamental shift in Europe’s ability to secure its own defense supply chain," Swebal CEO and Co-Founder Joakim Sjöblom said. "To achieve true security of supply, we must bring every part of the chain - not just assembly - back inside Europe and inside NATO territory. We’re ready to break ground and take the next major step toward a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant Europe."
The announcement comes amid an increase in European ammunition production to support Ukraine's defense against Russia. In 2024, the European Commission committed nearly $587 million to reach an annual production capacity of 2 million 155-millimeter artillery shells by the end of 2025.
