Swedish Air Force | |
---|---|
Flygvapnet | |
Founded | 1 July 1926 |
Country | Sweden |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size | 2,700 [1] |
Part of | Swedish Armed Forces |
March |
|
Equipment | 207 aircraft |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Chief of Air Force | MajGen Jonas Wikman |
Deputy Chief of Air Force | BGen Tommy Petersson |
Chief of the Air Staff | Col Dennis Hedström |
Notable commanders | Bengt Nordenskiöld |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Aircraft flown | |
Electronic warfare | Saab 340 AEW&C, Gulfstream IV-SP |
Fighter | JAS 39 Gripen |
Helicopter | A109LUH, NH90, UH-60M |
Trainer | Grob G 120TP |
Transport | C-130H Hercules, Saab 340B, Gulfstream IV-SP, Gulfstream G550 |
The Swedish Air Force (Swedish : Svenska flygvapnet or just Flygvapnet) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.
The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded from four to seven squadrons.
When World War II broke out in 1939 further expansion was initiated and this substantial expansion was not finished until the end of the war. Although Sweden never entered the war, a large air force was considered necessary to ward off the threat of invasion and to resist pressure through military threats from the great powers. By 1945 the Swedish Air Force had over 800 combat-ready aircraft, including 15 fighter divisions.
A major problem for the Swedish Air Force during World War II was the lack of fuel. Sweden was surrounded by countries at war and could not rely on imported oil. Instead domestic oil shale was heated to produce the needed petrol. [3]
About 250 aircrew were killed in crashes 1939-1945 according to statistics that were not disclosed during the war years but published afterwards. [4]
The Swedish Air Force underwent a rapid modernization from 1945. It was no longer politically acceptable to equip it with second-rate aircraft types. Instead, the Air Staff purchased the best it could find from abroad, e.g. P-51D Mustangs, De Havilland Mosquito NF.19 night fighters and de Havilland Vampires, and supported the development of top performance domestic models. The Saab 29 Tunnan jet fighter was introduced around 1950.
In the late 1950s the Swedish Air Force introduced the Bas 60 air base system, which revolved around force dispersal of air squadrons across many wartime air bases in case of war in order to make it complicated for an opponent to destroy the air force on the ground. Road runways were also introduced as backup runways. Bas 60 was developed further into Bas 90 during the 1970s and 1980s. [5] [6] [7] [8]
During the Cold War large amounts of money (including funds intended for the Swedish nuclear weapons programme) were spent on the Swedish Air Force and domestic aircraft production. In 1957 Sweden had the world's fourth most powerful air force, [9] with about 1,000 modern planes in front-line service. [10] During the 1950s, it introduced fighters such as the Saab J 29 Tunnan, Saab A 32 Lansen and Saab J 35 Draken.[ citation needed ]
In June 1952 the Swedish Air Force lost two aircraft on Cold War operations, in what became known as the Catalina affair. A signals intelligence Douglas DC-3 was intercepted by Soviet MiG-15s over the Baltic, and shot down with the loss of three aircrew and five civilian technicians. A PBY Catalina rescue seaplane was then also downed, the five-man crew being rescued from the sea by a freighter.[ citation needed ]
In the air defence role the Swedish Air Force also operated surface-to-air missiles. Svea Air Corps (F 8) operated de Havilland J-28B Vampire jet aircraft in 1949 being replaced in 1953 by Saab J-29 Tunnan and in 1957 by J-34 Hunter fighters. As of 1961 F 8 reroled into missile defence role becoming the air force technical training centre for using the new RB-68 Bloodhound systems in 2 squadrons until 1974.
These Swedish units also operated the RB-68 missile system (1 squadron each):
In the Cold War era, more than 600 Swedish fighter pilots were killed in crashes during peacetime exercises and training in the 1945–1991 period. [11] In the 1950s–60s era the flight training curriculum was deficient and the training regimes were too risky and some aircraft types had design flaws. In the 1950s, about 21 pilots were killed annually. [12]
In the 1960s the average number of killed were 13 per year, which meant Sweden had sixfold mortality rate per 100,000 flight hours compared to the United States. In the 1960s flight safety started to become a consideration, not due to the death toll but because the aircraft were getting increasingly expensive. [12] In October 1960, a Lansen fighter crashed into a farmhouse and killed 7 people. [4] In the 1970s the death toll was reduced to 6–7 per year. In subsequent years, it continued to fall and from 1996 onwards, no fatal accident has been recorded. [12]
The Swedish Air Force has been involved in three wars, the Finno-Soviet Winter War in 1939–40, in which volunteers took part, the Congo Crisis, 1961–64, and in the 2011 Libyan civil war.
When the Soviet Union attacked Finland in November 1939, Sweden came to its neighbour's assistance but eventually decided not to join the war.
A Swedish volunteer infantry brigade and a volunteer air squadron fought in northern Finland from January to March 1940. The squadron was designated F 19 and consisted of 12 Gloster Gladiator fighters and four Hawker Hart dive-bombers.
The Swedish Air Force saw combat as part of the United Nations peace-keeping mission ONUC during the Congo Crisis in 1961 to 1964. It established a separate air wing, F 22, equipped with a dozen Saab 29 Tunnans, which performed well under the rough conditions in central Africa. The secessionist adversaries possessed only a small number of aircraft with poor combat capabilities, e.g. Fouga Magister trainers.
With the end of the Cold War the Swedish Armed Forces underwent a massive restructuring process. During this time, several air bases were deemed unnecessary and closed with fighters like the Saab 37 Viggen retired prematurely. In 1994 the air force had over 400 fighters, by 2005 the number had sunk to fewer than 150.
On 29 March 2011, the Swedish prime minister announced that eight Saab JAS 39 Gripens would support the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya. [13] The announcement responded to a NATO request for assistance. The Swedish fighters were limited to supporting the no-fly zone and were not authorized to engage in ground attack sorties. The deployment was approved by the Swedish Riksdag on 1 April 2011 and the first jets departed for Libya on 2 April. A C-130 Hercules accompanied the fighters for mid-air refueling. [14]
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat aircraft | |||||
JAS 39 Gripen | Sweden | Multirole | JAS 39C JAS 39D JAS 39E | 71 [15] 23 [15] 3 (60) [16] | 60 E variants on order 24 Gripen A/B in storage 120 C/D/E units are projected to be operational. [17] |
AWACS | |||||
Saab 340 | Sweden | AEW&C | ASC 890 | 2 [15] | Equipped with the Erieye radar. |
Bombardier Global 6000 | Canada | AEW&C | GlobalEye | 0 (+3) | 3 on order to replace ASC 890. [20] [21] |
Tanker | |||||
KC-130 Hercules | United States | Aerial refueling | KC-130H | 1 [15] | |
Transport | |||||
Saab 340 | Sweden | Utility transport | 1 [15] | One used for reconnaissance | |
Gulfstream IV | United States | VIP transport | 4 [22] | Two aircraft used for SIGINT [15] | |
C-130 Hercules | United States | Tactical airlifter | C-130H | 5 [15] | To be replaced by Embraer C-390 [23] |
Embraer C-390 | Brazil | Tactical airlifter | TBC [24] | ||
Helicopters | |||||
Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | Utility | UH-60M | 15 (+12) | 12 UH-60M on order [25] |
NHIndustries NH90 | European Union | Utility / Transport | TTH | 18 [15] | |
AgustaWestland AW109 | Italy | Trainer / Light utility | 20 [15] | ||
Trainer aircraft | |||||
Grob G 120TP | Germany | Basic trainer | 10 (+3) | Additional 3 on order in 2024, to be delivered by 2025. | |
UAV | |||||
AAI RQ-7 Shadow | United States | Surveillance | 8 [26] | ||
Elbit Skylark [27] | Israel | Surveillance |
Note: Three C-17 Globemaster III's are available through the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary [28]
There are four fighter wings:
The aviation units that were formerly under the Swedish Army ("Arméflyget") and the Swedish Navy ("Marinflyget") have been merged with the helicopter units of the Air Force to form the single Helicopter Wing (Hkpflj) for the entire Armed Forces. The wing has been placed under the authority of the Air Force and consists of:
The air transport units perform airlift operations, and are used in both national and in international missions. The unit also organizes the Swedish part of the Heavy Airlift Wing in Hungary. Signals reconnaissance units conduct electronic combat reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
The Swedish Air Force is being adapted to new future tasks. Today about 80 Gripen C/D fighters remain in service. Some orders have been made and 60 new Jas 39 Gripen E units will join the air force in the coming years. Saab has also joined the primarily French project for the unmanned future stealth plane Dassault nEUROn.
In 2008 and 2010, the Swedish armed forces wanted to retire even more fighters and close air bases to relocate money to other branches. However, because of negative response from the public and pressure from the Swedish government, no cuts happened as of 2011. [31] [32] [33] [34]
In 2013, the USMC introduced Swedish helicopter units to the forward air control airborne mission profile for better air-ground coordination. [35] In the same year, 60 further modified E class Gripens were ordered with the first plane to join the Air force in 2018. [36]
At RIAT 2022, the commander of the Swedish Air Force stated that the air force in the future (2030) will consist of 60 Jas 39C/D and 60 Jas 39E in a total of 7 fighter squadrons.
In November 2022, the Strategic Defence Plan was published in which it was announced that all NH90 helicopters will be phased out and replaced, additional Sikorsky Black Hawks will be ordered for the tactical transport role, a new medium sized helicopter for the ASW/ASuW role will be selected. [37]
Today the Swedish Air Force main fighter is the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, in the C/D versions. By 2018 95 fighters were active with about 30 of these being updated from the A version. [38]
The heavily modernised E version will replace the current fleet of Gripen Cs. The new aircraft includes a new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and is powered by the General Electric F414G. It carries more fuel and weapons. The upgrade also includes new weapon systems like the Meteor missile system. [39] In 2013, Saab signed an agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration for 60 new Gripen in the E version. The first aircraft is to join the Swedish Air Force by 2018. [40] JAS 39C is expected to remain in service until 2030. [41]
The Swedish C-130 Hercules (TP 84) were bought from the United States in the 1960s and has been updated several times. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration has been tasked to update the aircraft so they can remain in service to 2030. There are also plans to buy new aircraft by 2024 to replace the current fleet. [42] As part of the Heavy Airlift Wing cooperation, Sweden also operates three Boeing C-17 which are located at Pápa Air Base in Hungary.
Sweden used the Saab 105 as the primary jet-trainer until phase out per June 2024. About 40 planes were operational. Designed in the 1960s the aircraft is starting to show its age and were gradually phased out from active service. The Swedish Air Force has selected the Grob G 120TP as its new Basic Trainer Aircraft, designated SK 40. 10 aircraft have been ordered and delivered but due to work environment problems caused by high workload the implementation of the new planes have been put on hold temporarily. [43]
Sweden will procure the Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform to replace its two S100D/ASC890. The Swedish Armed Forces submitted an official request to the government to buy the Saab GlobalEye platform on October 1, 2021. On October 24, 2021 the Swedish government approved the purchase to replace its old S100D/ASC890.
On 30 June 2022 SAAB and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a contract for the acquisition of 2 GlobalEye aircraft, to be designated S 106 in Swedish service. The deal is valued at 7,3 billion SEK (US$710 million) and deliveries was scheduled for 2027. The contract also includes the option to procure up to 2 additional GlobalEye aircraft. After pledging current Saab ASC 890 platforms to Ukraine, the GlobalEye delivery was rushed and 1 additional aircraft was ordered.
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Swedish Air Force [44] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Generallöjtnant | Generalmajor | Brigadgeneral | Överste | Överstelöjtnant | Major | Kapten | Löjtnant | Fänrik |
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Swedish Air Force [44] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flottiljförvaltare | Förvaltare | Överfanjunkare | Fanjunkare | Översergeant | Sergeant | Överfurir | Furir | Korpral | Vicekorpral | Menig 4 | Menig 3 | Menig 2 | Menig 1 | Menig |
Saab AB, with subsidiaries collectively known as the Saab Group, is a Swedish aerospace and defense company primarily operating from Sweden. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, but its development and manufacturing operations are undertaken in Linköping.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. Later aircraft are fully NATO interoperable. As of 2020, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, have been delivered.
The Saab 37 Viggen is a single-seat, single-engine multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab. It was the first canard-equipped aircraft to be produced in quantity and the first to carry an airborne digital central computer with integrated circuits for its avionics, arguably making it the most modern/advanced combat aircraft in Europe at the time of introduction. The digital central computer was the first of its kind in the world, automating and taking over tasks previously requiring a navigator/copilot, facilitating handling in tactical situations where, among other things, high speeds and short decision times determined whether attacks would be successful or not, a system not surpassed until the introduction of the Panavia Tornado into operational service in 1981.
The Saab 35 Draken is a Swedish fighter-interceptor developed and manufactured by Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (SAAB) between 1955 and 1974. Development of the Saab 35 Draken started in 1948 as the Swedish air force future replacement for the then also in development Saab 29 Tunnan day fighter and Saab 32B Lansen all-weather fighter. It featured an innovative but unproven double delta wing, leading to the creation of a sub-scale test aircraft, the Saab 210, which was produced and flown to test this previously-unexplored aerodynamic feature. The full-scale production version entered service with frontline squadrons of the Swedish Air Force on March 8, 1960. It was produced in several variants and types, most commonly as a fighter-interceptor.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966, the SAAF was involved in providing infantry support in the low-intensity Border War in Angola, South-West Africa and Rhodesia. As the war progressed, the intensity of air operations increased, until in the late 1980s when the SAAF were compelled to fly fighter missions against Angolan aircraft in order to maintain tactical air superiority. On conclusion of the Border War in 1990, aircraft numbers were severely reduced due to economic pressures as well as the cessation of hostilities with neighbouring states.
The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) is the aerial warfare force of the Kingdom of Denmark and one of the four branches of the Danish Armed Forces. Initially being components of the Army and the Navy, it was made a separate service in 1950. Its main purpose is to serve as enforcer of Danish airspace and to provide air support to Danish group troops on the battlefield.
The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Army of the Czech Republic. Along with the Land Forces, the Air Force is the major Czech military force. With traditions of military aviation dating back to 1918, the Czech Air Force, together with the Slovak Air Force, succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1993. On 1 July 1997, the 3rd Tactical Aviation Corps and the 4th Air Defence Corps of the Czech Army were merged to form an independent Air Force Headquarters.
The Hungarian Air Force, is the air force branch of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
The JAS 39 Gripen is a fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab.
Blekinge Wing, also F 17 Kallinge, or simply F 17, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Ronneby in southern Sweden. The wing also operates the air base on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. It is one of four wings in Sweden and currently has two squadrons of JAS-39 C/D fighter aircraft.
Östgöta Wing, also F 3 Malmslätt, or simply F 3, is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Malmen air base near Linköping in south-eastern Sweden.
Skaraborg Wing, also F 7 Såtenäs, or simply F 7, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Lidköping in south-central Sweden.
Norrbotten Wing, also F 21 Luleå, or simply F 21, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in Luleå Airport in northern Sweden. It is one of the three remaining wings in Sweden and currently has two squadrons of multirole aircraft. F 21 in the north and F 17 in the south are the two wings remaining to have operational squadrons. F 7 is a school where pilots begin their training in the JAS 39 Gripen. Once completed the pilot's training is moved out to the two operational wings where they acquire their final training.
Industrigruppen JAS AB was a Swedish industrial consortium under executive director Harald Schröder founded in August 1980 by Saab-Scania, Volvo Flygmotor, LM Ericsson, Svenska Radioaktiebolaget Communications and Förenade Fabriksverken (FFV) for the development, construction and manufacturing of the new Swedish combat aircraft JAS 39 Gripen on behalf of the Swedish Air Force. The tender was submitted in June 1981 to Försvarets Materielverk (FMV), and on 30 June 1982 a contract was signed for development, and for five prototype aircraft and 30 production aircraft.
Major General Mats Eric Helgesson is a retired Swedish Air Force officer. He served as commanding officer of the Blekinge Wing and as Chief of Air Force from 2015 to 2019.
The Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing organizes all Swedish Armed Forces military helicopter operations. The unit was formed in 1998 by merging the Army, Air Force and Navy helicopter resources. The unit is located in three places in Sweden, with headquarters at Malmen Airbase in Linköping.
The Central Air Command was an air command within the Swedish Air Force that operated from 1994 to 2000. The unit was based in Bålsta in Uppsala Garrison. It was responsible for air surveillance over Central Sweden.
The Southern Air Command was an air command within the Swedish Air Force that operated from 1994 to 2000. The unit was based in Ängelholm. It was responsible for air surveillance over South Sweden.
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