urbanf@yj.data.nokia.fi (Urban Fredriksson) (02/12/91)
From: urbanf@yj.data.nokia.fi (Urban Fredriksson)
Why multirole combat aircraft?
Three decades ago there were only three nations with at larger
inventory of combat aircraft than Sweden. For economic reasons
that couldn't go on.
The Saab 32 Lansen (Lance) was produced in attack,
reconnaissance and night-fighter versions. The Saab 35 Draken
(Dragon) interceptor had a secondary attack capability and was
also built in a reconnaissance version. This was a step in the
right direction and the Saab 37 Viggen (Thunderbolt) was
initially planned to be built in only one version. With 1960's
technology this proved to be impossible, however. So, today
the Swedish Air Force consists of (approximately):
Fighters 140 JA 37 Viggen
80 J 35 F/J Draken (The 60 J's are total
and recent rebuilds)
Attack 85 AJ 37 Viggen
Reconnaissance 50 SF/SH 37 Viggen (Photo/Maritime)
Light attack/Recon. 125 Sk 60
There are also a few Viggen trainers, which are AJ's, except
for fuel capacity. Some 20 Lansen are used for target towing
and ECM.
All the Viggens have secondary roles, which more emphasis has
been put to the last few years. This considerably increases
the uncertainity of an attacker. "Will my bombers be met by
200 or 300 aircraft, will the invasion fleet be attacked by
100 or 350 aircraft?". This forces him to allocate more
resources than otherwise.
If there is enough money, we'll have some 300 Gripens, doing
the job of perhaps 500 mission-specific aircraft, but cheaper.
-- -- --
The Swedish Air Force relies heavily on dispersal to protect
its aircraft. Each (war-time) air base has up to 5 runways
(most 800 m, which is plenty enough for Viggen and Gripen).
There are no fixed servicing points: the aircraft are serviced
by mobile teams anywhere on the base (which can be quite
large). Sweden is not small, and there is a good supply of
bases all over the country.
| Urban Fredriksson |"The best way to get rid of an | I do NOT speak |
| Stockholm, Sweden | enemy is to make him a friend."| for my employer! |