The Quest for Relevant Air Power

280 │ Swedish Air Force
Cold War, defence planners during the 1970s started to envisage
the possibility of limited surprise attacks directed against Sweden’s
key infrastructure. Soviet submarine incursions into Swedish
coastal waters during the early 1980s corroborated this concern.
Henceforth, preparation for defence against limited attacks was
given particular emphasis. 10 Simultaneously, adherence to a defencein-depth
doctrine was reiterated. Sweden’s ability to engage invasion
forces beyond the national border and coast by combat aircraft
and submarines was considered important. 11
JAS 39D Gripen dual-seat combat aircraft
Courtesy Gripen International; photo by Stefan Kalm
Notwithstanding the country’s neutral status, Sweden played a
key role in Western defence plans of Scandinavia. 12 A large and
powerful SwAF was regarded as pivotal by NATO defence planners,
given the relatively weak Norwegian Air Force. In the later
stages of the Cold War, Sweden possessed indeed one of the largest
and best equipped air forces in Europe. 13 Other impressive features
were its modern early warning and command systems, an
extensive dispersed basing system, and its indigenous combat aircraft
designs, such as the advanced JA 37 Viggen, tailored to Sweden’s
defence requirements. 14
Given Sweden’s proximity to Russia and its considerable autonomous
defence effort throughout the Cold War, the Swedish de-