STEWART PENNEY / RONNEBY, SWEDEN
Move could see all air force squadrons becoming available for international deployment
The Swedish air force is preparing to declare its first Saab JAS39 Gripen unit available for deployment on international peace support and other coalition missions.
On 1 January next year the air force plans to have the eight JAS39A multirole fighters of 172 Sqn, F17 Wing at Ronneby in southern Sweden available to deploy on European Union, NATO, Nordic Defence Co-operation Pact or United Nations missions.
Lt Col Rickard Nyström, commanding officer 172 Sqn, says the unit will provide "limited reconnaissance" and protection of aircraft performing such missions. The JAS39 does not have a reconnaissance pod, hence the "limited" description, but a system is due in service by 2006, by which time the squadron will have the JAS39C, which is better suited to coalition operations, says Nyström.
The JAS39C, which is under Swedish air force test and evaluation, has colour displays, NATO- compatible IFF identification systems, an air-to-air refuelling capability, and imperial-units instrumentation.
The initial two years of operations before the JAS39C arrives "are an opportunity to build experience", says Nyström, adding: "I'm very humble, we have lots to learn, it's good to have time to build up [our capabilities]."
The unit will be able to deploy to a base under a "lead nation", although Nyström acknowledges this is less of a capability than some NATO countries can offer.
If the Swedish government agrees to a deployment request, it will conduct a "reconnaissance" of the operating site within 15 days and deploy by 30 days. After 60 days, control of the squadron will be handed to the lead nation.
Nyström says: "I believe in future all Swedish squadrons will be able to deploy for these operations". This will ease aircrew rotation, as would increasing the number of pilots on 172 Sqn from 14 to 20, he adds. As well as pilots, the squadron will deploy with support personnel, logistics and maintenance support.
Nyström says the pilots have had to learn NATO combat search-and-rescue procedures and other elements of alliance operations, because "we don't want to be a show stopper". The pilots are also having to learn to use English rather than Swedish for radio communications.
The Swedish air force is changing from a purely defence to a coalition role "with different rules of engagement and you have to operate differently. Tactics, the way we think and airmanship will not change but the way we operate will," says Nyström.
Source: Flight International
