The Swedish Armed Forces have adopted a new concept for the use of their air force in the event of a possible Russian attack, ERR reports.
“The Swedish Armed Forces have adopted a new concept for air force combat operations that envisages air strikes against targets in the enemy’s rear in the event of an attack on Sweden,” the report said.
Colonel Carl Bergqvist, head of the Swedish Air Force’s Air Operations Centre, stressed that in the event of an attack on Sweden, Moscow should no longer expect the Swedish military to limit itself exclusively to defensive actions. The new concept envisages a transition to offensive operations and strikes deep inside Russian territory.
A central element of the concept is the JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter, which is to be equipped with Taurus KEPD cruise missiles. The missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometres and are designed to destroy heavily protected ground targets.
The Swedish military could also reportedly acquire missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres. The distance between Stockholm and Moscow is approximately 1,200 kilometres.
In addition, the Swedish Air Force’s new concept envisages dispersing combat aircraft and using roads for fighter jet take-offs and landings.
Sweden also plans to strengthen its air defence and reconnaissance capabilities with satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles.
