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Home , Erieye, Saab 105, Swedish Air Force

While maintaining its neutrality, is growing its and pursuing greater interoperability with the US.

By John A. Tirpak, Editorial Director

A Saab Gripen takes off during an exercise. photo by Louise Levin

54 FEBRUARY 2017 H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM fter the ended, Such tensions, coupled with new of air defense capabilities; more anti- neutral Sweden relaxed its competition in the Arctic for resources submarine warfare capacity; increased military posture, reduced and sea routes, has put Sweden in the investment in recruiting and sustaining its defense spending, con- thick of things, he said. “The strategic troops; and a modernized civil defense ductedA fewer exercises, and focused on importance of our area of interest—our and “active” cyber defense. domestic issues, anticipating a period neighborhood—is increasing.” The bill approved further investment of security calm. But as Russia flexes Along with the European refugee in the JAS-39 Gripen indigenous family its military muscles—having annexed crisis—hitting Sweden with a wave of of fighters and equipping it with the mul- Crimea, invaded Georgia and Ukraine, unexpected immigrants—and terrorist tinational beyond-visual-range and taken a highly aggressive posture bombings around Europe, the time was radar guided missile. toward its other European neighbors— ripe for Sweden to step up its secu- The bill specifically ruled out making Sweden is moving quickly to heighten rity posture. In 2015, a parliamentary a judgment about whether Sweden’s its readiness and ability to deter a white paper called for an increase in neutrality continues to make sense, but war—or fight one. operational capability of the Swedish called for an independent report gauging Its principal military instrument is military, Helmrich said. the value of Sweden’s military relation- its air force. ships with other countries, organizations, This is “the new operational envi- NEW CANDOR and alliances, such as the European ronment,” said Col. Lars Helmrich, “I can hardly remember when it was Union, NATO, and “the transatlantic Skaraborg commander for the so … clearly stated” by the Swedish link” with the US. Flygvapnet () in an government that the country’s military Swedish press outlets in September interview at F7 last year. Helm- should boost its readiness, Helmrich said the resulting report found that while rich, who was designated to speak on said. According to him, the paper stated NATO membership would add to Swe- behalf of the Swedish air force to Air that while Sweden is neutral, “the new den’s deterrence, so would strengthened Force Magazine, is a 26-year Flygvap- security policy doctrine is that we don’t ties with Finland, another nonaligned net veteran. He has held an array of believe that we will fight alone; we country. Though she would not com- operational, staff, materiel, and policy will fight together with others.” While ment on the report directly, Sweden’s jobs and attended the US Air Force Air the “national” focus of the new policy foreign minister, Margot E. Wallström, War College and participated in a Red is pre-eminent, the “interoperability told journalists, “The answer is not Flag exercise. He said Sweden believes aspect is still as important,” he said. Swedish NATO membership. Freedom Russia will make good on its plan “to Since the end of the Cold War, he said, from military alliances serves us well have 70 percent of their [military] national defense was not prioritized, and contributes to stability and security materiel modernized” by 2020. and that had consequences. “Everything in Northern Europe.” She also said Stockholm has watched with grow- from the base system to the personnel Sweden’s security policy should be ing concern as Russia made aggressive system—everything needs to be refo- “long-term, stable, and protected from moves and cyber attacks on Baltic na- cused now,” Helmrich said. sharp fluctuations.” tions in recent years. A March 2013 The white paper—called the “Swed- NATO Secretary General Jens Stol- incident galvanized public opinion to ish Defense Bill, 2016-2020”—set a tenberg said at the alliance’s meeting strengthen the military when Russian plan to “successively increase the de- in Warsaw, Poland, last summer that he Tu-23M3 Backfire and Su-27 fense spending over the next five years knows better than to encourage Sweden Flanker fighters staged an unannounced with an 11 percent increase,” or 2.2 to join the group, saying it would not mock nuclear attack toward Stockholm percent per year, a government website be taken kindly and that Sweden must and other presumed targets in southern stated. The bill was described as being make its choice internally. Sweden. based on “broad political agreement” Last June, US Defense Secretary Russia’s recent buzzing of US and between Sweden’s five main political Ashton B. Carter and Sweden’s Defense NATO ships is mirrored by similarly parties and was developed “in light of Minister Peter Hultqvist signed a non- dangerous incidents with the Swed- the developments in Russia and specifi- binding statement of intent on military ish military, where surveillance and cally the Russian aggression towards cooperation. It called for increased signals intelligence aircraft have been Ukraine.” interoperability between the countries, intercepted over international waters Summed up, the bill called for less more numerous joint training and exer- by Russian jets that sometimes fly theoretical planning and more specific cises, more cooperation on armaments, just a few feet away. Russian military planning for real-world scenarios; re- research and development, and “meeting aircraft frequently fly over the Baltic newed investment in infrastructure and common challenges in multinational Sea without transponders that identify basic equipment (such as trucks); the cre- operations.” them and demonstrate other “provoca- ation of a new mechanized battalion; re- Saab, maker of the Gripen, is part- tive behaviors,” Helmrich said. establishment of a military presence on nered with Boeing to offer a candidate Moreover, “even though they have Sweden’s Baltic Sea island of ; for the US Air Force’s T-X competition. economic problems,” Helmrich said more armored vehicles, bridging gear, Sweden, too, has a 50-year-old trainer— of Russia, “they still prioritize their self-propelled artillery, and anti-tank the —and needs to replace military buildup.” weapons; two new corvettes; expansion it soon. The airborne warning

FEBRUARY 2017 H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 55 Swedish Armed Forces photo by Louise Levin

Swedish air force maintainers refuel and rearm a JAS-39 Gripen. The fighter is certified to carry many US munitions, and Sweden is seeking certification for more.

Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), Joint defensive counterair or reconnaissance Air-to-Surface-Standoff Missile, Mav- missions with the Gripen. erick air-to-surface missile, Miniature USAF Lt. Gen. Ralph J. Jodice II, who Air Launched Decoy, Paveway laser ran the air portion of the Libya opera- guided bombs, and both the tion for NATO, said at the time he was plane will also need replacement in the and Sniper targeting pods. greatly impressed with the product from coming years. Sweden has been heavily involved the Swedish recce pods. It is a capability There’s already a good deal of part- with international military operations in USAF has long since ceded to remotely nership between the US and Sweden, the last two decades, participating in 12 piloted aircraft. Helmrich said the capa- particularly its air force. The Flygvapnet over the last five years alone, Helmrich bility Sweden deployed was not just the flies American C-130H transports, is a said. It participated in peacekeeping in tools to collect imagery but included the partner in the multinational C-17 Heavy Kosovo, has flown resupply missions in experts needed to interpret it. Airlift Wing based in , and Afghanistan—both in Enduring Free- The Flygvapnet has adopted a new the Gripen uses a variant of the Gen- dom and Resolute Support—rescue slogan in light of the 2015 defense eral Electric F404 engine flown on the missions in Chad and Mali, maritime bill, Helmrich said. “We want to be a American F/A-18 fighter. The Gripen is missions in the Gulf of Aden, partici- reliable partner, … a credible air force, either certified or being certified to carry pates in the NATO Response Force, and and deliver security in the Baltic area.” a wide array of US munitions, including flew combat in the 2011 air campaign to Though NATO nations take turns air-to-air missiles, the Small Diameter oust Muammar Qaddafi from power in performing Baltic air policing, Sweden Bomb, Joint Direct Attack Munition, Libya. In that conflict, Sweden flew 580 performs the mission for its own national

Swedish soldiers gather their weapons and equipment on the flight line on Gotland, a Baltic Sea island, during an exercise in 2015. Sweden is re-establishing a military presence there.

Swedish Armed Forces photo by Mats Nyström

56 FEBRUARY 2017 H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM purposes, and closer to Russia than the Helmrich said some old defensive contract basis.” The rough breakdown NATO jets fly. measures are being revived in Sweden. is 900 officers, 1,400 noncommissioned “We are not provocative” with the During the Cold War, Sweden routinely officers, and 900 airmen. patrols, Helmrich asserted. “The aim is operated its fighters from hundreds of Helmrich boasted that “there’s about to be a stabilizing force, not to provoke roads and highways that were built 20 personnel per platform.” Compared incidents.” Sweden flies around-the- straight and wide enough to serve as with other air forces, “we are very clock surveillance and signals intelli- runways, so that if its air bases were personnel-effective—very efficient.” gence missions with its Erieye airborne destroyed, the Flygvapnet could continue Pilots typically get between 120 and warning and control system-type aircraft to operate. Roadside turnoffs mark areas 180 hours a year, up to 15 a month. and a Gulfstream 4 equipped for recon- where the jets were serviced, fueled, and While that may not sound like a lot, naissance. Helmrich said there’s been a rearmed. The air force stopped using its “the exercise area is here,” Helmrich 50 percent increase in the numbers of highways as alternate runways back in said, so there’s no transit time to get to such flights since 2012. the 1990s, in the defense lull after the a training range. “When you’re gear up, “Since the last 15 to 17 years,” there Cold War ended, but has begun reviving you’re there. … You can train anywhere has been a heavy push for interoper- this practice, Helmrich said. you want. The airspace is just great.” ability with other air forces, Helmrich Sweden used to have a universal said. This goal was a big reason for the A NEW CONCEPT conscription program that brought in conversion from the Gripen JAS-39A to “All those skills” involved in field- draftees for a two-year hitch (unless the JAS-39C. This included changes in turning fighters, he said, “have to be they volunteered to serve and enter a communications—adding the Link 16 brought back again.” The air force is career path), but it was abandoned in data link, for example—plus symbology working with agencies that maintain 2010 in favor of an all-volunteer sys- and metrics in English, the international the roads, as well as those owning the tem. It’s been “a challenge for us” to language of aviation. adjacent forests, to reinvigorate the compete with the private sector for the “They were built mainly to be interop- practice. most qualified youth, Helmrich said. erable,” Helmrich said of the JAS-39C “It’s not just materials and equip- Sweden regularly hosts other coun- fleet. ment, it’s how to perform command tries for exercises, particularly with Fin- “We talk English in the air. We started and control, turnaround times, and so land—also neutral, but flying US F/A- that in the early 2000s,” he said. on. So not back to an old concept but 18s—and Norway, a NATO member. When he deployed with a Gripen force a new concept that uses some of the These Arctic Challenge exercises and to Red Flag, “we were more interoper- ingredients from the past.” lesser, -to-squadron, meets able than many NATO countries,” he Under the new defense bill, he said, happen several times a year. American asserted. Though Helmrich did not fly “we now have six fighter squadrons,” F-15s from RAF Lakenheath in the in Operation Unified Protector—the counting two former training-only UK sometimes come up to Sweden for Libyan campaign—“everything I’ve squadrons. Air battalions have been training, Helmrich said. heard is that it was seamless. … We reorganized as wings. The Gripen is the centerpiece of were in place 24 hours after the politi- The Flygvapnet counts about 4,000 Swedish defense, much as the Viggen cal decisions.” “permanently employed and 700 on a before it and the Draken before that. All

Saab photo by Jamie Hunter

In formation over Linköping, Sweden, are JAS-39s from: Sweden, the Czech Republic, and (top row, l-r), Hungary and the UK (second row), and South Africa (foreground).

FEBRUARY 2017 H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 57 Saab photo by Svarteld

Sweden’s Erieye airborne early warning and control aircraft, outfitted with an active electronically scanned array radar system, will need replacing soon. three aircraft were ahead of their time, principal beyond-visual-range weapon. well as new weapons like the Meteor and the Viggen and Draken, painted gray, The motor allows the Meteor to retain and Small Diameter Bomb, additional would look right at home on a modern propulsion all the way to the target, al- underfuselage hardpoints, an infrared runway even though their designs date lowing it to “keep high speed until the search-and-track system, new air-to- back to the ’50s and ’60s. very end. A traditional missile engine surface missiles, greater internal fuel The Gripen is used for point defense, loses speed. So this is … really great.” capacity, new data links, an active offensive and defensive counterair, anti- Helmrich said, “I can’t see that there’s electronically scanned array radar, and shipping, close air support, reconnais- any fighter that can compete with Gripen sensor fusion throughout, Helmrich said. sance, and interdiction. It was designed in the air-to-air role at this moment.” The jet is being developed to reduce to be nimble and quick, without heavy workload and offer increased availability fuel tanks because it would operate so SELLING THE GRIPEN and potentially faster turn time. close to home, and to be easily main- Sweden designed the Gripen not only The first JAS-39Es will be delivered tained. for its own purposes but for export, to circa 2023 and notionally retire around “Turnaround time is between 10 and defray its own expense in fielding the 2042, he said. After that, it will be time 20 minutes, depending on what kind jet. It touts the Gripen as an inexpensive for yet another ahead-of-its time design. of mission you’re doing, and it can be alternative for nonaligned countries Implementing the defense bill is all done with two technicians,” Helmrich seeking an effective, easily maintained about “shifting the mind-set” of the said. At Red Flag in 2008, the Gripen air defender. So far, the Gripen has Flygvapnet, Helmrich stated. achieved a 95 percent rate of launching logged sales to the Czech Republic, “We are now turning to a more practi- planned sorties, he said. Hungary, South Africa, Thailand, the cal focus … on actions and skills,” he The Gripen concept calls for “continu- UK (where it is used in small numbers said. “It’s not what we are capable of, ous upgrades,” with a major addition to in the test pilot school), and recently to but what we can actually do. And that capabilities every third year and smaller Brazil, which is buying the advanced is really important to us. So we are once block upgrades to existing systems every JAS-39E and F model. again on a war basis: We participate in calendar year. The newest model of the Gripen, the more exercises. We train a lot more and “Some countries,” Helmrich said, E version, is set for first flight this year. … show that we do more air operation “you have a big upgrade and you live The JAS-39E concept was worked out and also practice a lot of individual with it a number of years. We do this over a period of several years, Helmrich military skills.” continuously.” said. During that time the Flygvapnet Helmrich said the new ethos is: “What The most recent upgrade added ca- and Saab looked at options ranging from we do, not what we can do.” Through pability for the Meteor missile, Small a modest upgrade of the C model up these efforts—particularly the steady Diameter Bomb, night capability for to a clean-sheet, stealth design. Plan- practicing of interoperability with the the recce pod, Link 16, and digital close ners determined that with new sensors, US, NATO, and others—the Flygvapnet air support, Helmrich said, along with tweaks to the airframe, and a lot of new increases capability, “and by doing that improved maintenance requirements, avionics, the existing Gripen could be we are a stabilizing force in this area.” to increase availability. affordably evolved into a world-class Because of Russian provocations, The Meteor is “a game changer,” he platform able to hold its own militarily Sweden is in a more dangerous neighbor- claimed. The air-breathing missile offers and in the export market through 2040, hood than most would have anticipated “a bigger no-escape zone” and greater he said. 20 or even 10 years ago, but it is seeking range than the AIM-120 Advanced Medi- The E model will have a more pow- the partnerships and equipment needed um-Range Air-to-Air Missile, Gripen’s erful version of the GE F414 engine as to secure its defense. J

58 FEBRUARY 2017 H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM