In Austria, the Armed Forces also tested the concept once in October 1986 – then in a different security situation than today: Operating fighter aircraft away from airbases from expressways and highways. In Sweden, however, the approach is now practiced regularly; the country sees itself as a “NATO-frontline state”, as Militär Aktuell was able to find out during a visit to the far north.
In an emergency, only dummies would remain on the bases, according to Swedish Air Chief General Tommy Petersson in an interview with Militär Aktuell, with the jets stationed somewhere in the country along various stretches of road. According to Petersson, Sweden has been “practising the concept repeatedly since the Draken era”, but since 2017 the efforts have been intensified and training is now carried out up to four times a year.
Why all the effort? Because in the event of war – Russia will be able to use its military force after its war of aggression against Ukraine (-> current news from the Ukraine war), unlike a few years ago, Russia is clearly named as a potential enemy – the regular deployment sites would be threatened by cruise missiles, drones or short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) and the hangars, runways and landing strips would quickly become unusable. In realizing the planned alternative sites, the country’s air force benefits from the construction of its Saab Gripen fighter jets (the E-versions will soon be available), which make take-offs and landings possible on an area of just 800 x 17 meters.
During the visit by Militär Aktuell, practically all the procedures required to operate fighter jets on road sections were practiced. Many conscripts (and a striking number of female soldiers – since 2017, both genders have been drafted and conscripted in Sweden) were also deployed in the squadrons, as they are the ones who would bear the main burden of the 15-minute fuel and armament turnarounds with “their” cadre NCO in an emergency. This involves, for example, the handling of tools, platforms and cranes, but also the behavior in the periphery and, in particular, the rapid “change of position”, as the jets would be operated and serviced from rapidly changing positions. https://militaeraktuell.at/oesterreich-ist-der-sky-shield-initiative-beigetreten/
Incidentally, Gripen manufacturer Saab in Linköpping now also sees itself as a “critical key industry behind the front line”, with correspondingly significantly increased (and for visitors tedious) security precautions compared to the past.
The changed security situation is also clearly visible on Swedish TV: The program “Folk et Färsvarets” with the subtitle “Krigsförbanden” is broadcast live on the state TV channel 2. Among other things, the head of the army explains the situation in Eastern Europe to the population and the threat it poses to the critical infrastructure and urban centers of the “NATO frontline state”. Imagine something similar in Austria if the Chief of the General Staff were to spend an entire afternoon on ORF2 explaining the changed security situation and the new, far-reaching supra-regional contexts to viewers – unthinkable (at the moment?). In view of the planned revival of spiritual national defense in this country, perhaps something similar to Swedish TV should also be considered in Austria.
