the development of russian military policy and finland
the development of russian military policy and finland
the development of russian military policy and finland
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50 · The Development <strong>of</strong> Russian Military Policy <strong>and</strong> Finl<strong>and</strong><br />
The once formidable Swedish Air Force, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strongest air forces in<br />
Europe during <strong>the</strong> Cold War, has been allowed to diminish dramatically in<br />
capability. When <strong>the</strong> threat <strong>of</strong> massive invasion in <strong>the</strong> Baltic Sea area faded<br />
away, <strong>the</strong> major portion <strong>of</strong> squadrons were disb<strong>and</strong>ed. This was also <strong>the</strong> case<br />
with most <strong>of</strong> Sweden’s impressive road-base network, vital for wartime combat<br />
endurance.<br />
The numbers <strong>of</strong> both pilots <strong>and</strong> missiles available in <strong>the</strong> Swedish Air Force<br />
are thought to be modest. “Our capability for air support <strong>of</strong> ground combat in<br />
a war situation is completely inadequate because <strong>of</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> suitable weapons”,<br />
Major General (retd.) Karlis Neretnieks, <strong>the</strong> former Chief <strong>of</strong> Operations <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Swedish Defence Forces writes in “Friends in Need”, published by <strong>the</strong><br />
Royal Swedish Academy <strong>of</strong> Military Sciences in <strong>the</strong> spring <strong>of</strong> 2011. 193<br />
193 Neretnieks, 2011, p. 216. This pessimistic assessment may be only partly true as <strong>the</strong><br />
Swedish Air Force is equipped with various types <strong>of</strong> laser-guided Paveway bombs, Maverick<br />
missiles <strong>and</strong> Saab Rb15 anti-ship missiles. The Swedish Air Force has a limited tradition<br />
with regard to close air support (CAS), but has ra<strong>the</strong>r focused on air interdiction, striking<br />
against supply lines, etc., in <strong>the</strong> rear <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> adversary, <strong>and</strong> air defence. See more Rydell,<br />
2012.
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