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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1256.PDF
Swedish air force OUT OF NEUTRAL Sweden is transforming its defence stance and wants to be capable of joining future coalition deployments. But there are challenges to operating with NATO forces STEWART PENNEY / RONNEBY From 1 January 2004, Sweden plans to have the ability to deploy mili tary aircraft on international coali tion operations. The move marks a major change in the country's tra ditionally neutral defence posture. The last time it deployed fighters was in the early 1960s, when SaabJ29 Tunnans were oper ated in the Congo to support United Nations initiatives. Today, F17 Wing's 172 Sqn is working up to act as Sweden's rapid-reaction air component. It will be able to deploy eight Saab JAS39A Gripen single-seat, multirole fighters for "limited reconnaissance" and protection of aircraft flying such missions, says 172 Sqn commanding officer Lt Col Rickard Nystrom. He says the missions will be "limited reconnaissance" because the JAS39A does not now have a reconnaissance pod, al though it plans to have a new one in service by 2006. By then, the squadron is due to be operating theJAS39C, which has been con figured with future international operations in mind. The JAS39C, which is in Swedish air force test and evaluation, has colour dis plays, NATO-compatible IFF identification systems, an air-to-air refuelling capability and imperial-unit instrumentation. "Today's Gripen is not really made for the mission, but the JAS39C is," says Nystrom. The JAS39A, for instance, does not have an IFF, relying on its datalink to identify friend from foe. Using imperial units for height and airspeed brings the Swedish air force in line with most of the rest of the world. Nystrom says 2004 and 2005 will be used to gain experience before the JAS39C is available. "We would like to go straight to 2006, as then we could provide the full system, but this plan gives the opportunity to build up to 2006," he adds. Based at Ronneby in southern Sweden, F17 Wing comprises two units - 171 Sqn is - 30 27 MAY-2 JUNE FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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