NATO’s newest member nation, Sweden, is set to make a first overseas air policing deployment for the alliance, sending up to eight Saab Gripen fighters to Poland.
On 6 March, Stockholm announced that it will commit Gripens from the Swedish air force’s Norrbotten air flotilla – part of its F21 Wing, stationed at Lulea air base – to the activity between April and June.
“Under NATO leadership, up to eight JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets will patrol allied airspace and contribute to NATO’s defence and deterrence,” the service says.
The commitment will involve around 110 support personnel from Lulea, “also reinforced with personnel from other air force units”.
“We have extensive experience in maintaining and securing Sweden’s territorial integrity with our incident preparedness,” says Jorgen Axelsson, the air force’s chief of operations. “What is new is that we are now carrying out the same flight mission from Poland and within the framework of NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance of allied airspace.
“It is an important development of our capabilities and another step for the air force to become fully integrated into NATO’s air defence,” he adds.
“In addition to the mission to patrol the alliance’s northern surveillance area, the government also proposes that the Swedish force protect the logistics node for military and civilian support to Ukraine located in southeastern Poland,” the air force says.
“Participating in air policing will be another milestone in Sweden’s role as a NATO ally,” notes Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson. “We are proud to be able to contribute more combat power to our allies.”
Sweden completed its accession to NATO in March 2024, becoming the alliance’s 32nd member nation. It has an operational fleet of almost 100 Gripen C/Ds, with 60 E-model fighters on order.
