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Further Reading

Sweden Flygvapnet / Swedish Air Force

The Swedish Air Force organises and trains air combat, command and control and base units which, in concert with land and naval units, make up the mission-oriented operational units of the Swedish Armed Forces. These units must be capable of being used both internationally and nationally. In peacetime the Swedish Armed Forces must also be capable of being used in support of the civil community. The air combat units have to be ready, once parliamentary approval has been given, to take part in military operations beyond Sweden's borders. In such cases the Air Force contributes both men and materiel and is able to put together specific units depending on the nature of the mission.

The Swedish Air Force is composed of flight units, base units and command and control units:

• Air combat units are capable of striking land, sea and air targets with high levels of precision, flexibility and firepower, and can also be used for intelligence gathering and upholding Sweden's territorial integrity.
• Transport aircraft units carry out transport missions and are employed, for example, in humanitarian operations both nationally and internationally.
• Signals intelligence (SIGINT) units carry out signal intercept and intelligence gathering operations.
• Air surveillance units are used mainly to supplement the ground based radar stations.
• Helicopter units carry out land and sea based operations as well as search and rescue (SAR) duties.
• Base and command unit, the principal task of which is to provide command and control for the air combat units.

The Inspector General of the Swedish Air Force is the most senior representative of the Swedish Air Force's air combat forces. The Inspector General also heads the Air Force Tactical Staff (FTS) which forms part of the operational staff at Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. FTS leads activities utilising the Air Force's operational capabilities, for example in actual operations and deployments and in major exercises, both in Sweden and abroad.

The Air Force has about 500 active jet aircraft and several hundred more in reserve. Swedish highways are so designed that portions of themcan be used in emergencies as landing strips. On 27 January 1985, Sweden grounded its fighter jets on suspicion that the crash of a Viggen jet may have been due to sabotage. Investigation showed that the crash was due to loose screws and other metal objects inthe guidance system.

The Defence Resolution for 1997-2001 was divided into two phases, with Bills being presented in autumn 1995 and autumn 1996. The Government proposed that the following be disbanded: Hälsinge Wing (F 15) in Söderhamn, and the Air Force Flying Training Wing (F 5) in Ljungbyhed.

The Government is establishing a new focus for Swedish defence in its Bill "A functional defence" 2008/09:140, published 19 March 2009. The air force must primarily develop the capability to operate in the Nordic region. It should also be able to participate in air operations together with other countries, in Sweden and within and outside our region. Most of the air force will therefore consist of permanent units. As far as equipment is concerned, around 100 JAS 39C/D aircraft will be available to the Swedish Armed Forces, in four divisions. The Riksdag approved action plan for the JAS 39 Gripen aircraft applies. The A/B version of the JAS 39 Gripen will be phased out and the fleet aligned. Greater focus must be placed on armament and usability. Sweden, along with other Gripen countries, must continue to develop the aircraft system and its capabilities so that it remains a core air defence component for several decades to come. Apart from this, the helicopter battalion's capability will be gradually developed through the introduction of new helicopter models. The need for helicopters for medical evacuation means that helicopter 10 will be modified.