The Quest for Relevant Air Power

swedish Air Force │ 299
Courtesy Gripen International; photo by Gunnar Åkerberg
JAS 39B Gripen at the multinational Exercise Cold Response in Norway
ginning, SWAFRAP AJS 37 participated in NATO exercises, and
SWAFRAP C-130 crews were able to improve their skills in integrated
exercises such as Maple Flag in Canada. 110 Nowadays, JAS
39 Gripen units participate in various multinational exercises in
Europe, primarily northern Europe. 111
In accordance with the SwAF’s evolving international commitment,
the SwAF’s rapid reaction units first concentrated on lowintensity
PfP exercises. 112 With SWAFRAP JAS 39 becoming operational
in early 2004, Swedish combat aircraft have participated
in several multinational integrated air exercises, such as the Nordic
Air Meet in Sweden, Frisian Flag in Holland, and Cold Response
in Norway. Moreover, participation in Exercise Red Flag in
the United States or the NATO Air Meet in Europe was considered
in 2007. Against the backdrop of the NBG, Swedish JAS
39C/D Gripen combat aircraft were also deployed to Alaska to
practise CAS under realistic conditions. 113
Besides Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic are European
JAS 39 Gripen operators. The SwAF has been providing
training assistance for Czech and Hungarian Gripen pilots and
technicians. This kind of cooperation has fostered the SwAF’s international
expertise. For instance, training with the Czechs took
place in English, and all training material was translated into English
for this purpose. 114 Furthermore, Swedish Gripen aircrews
had the opportunity to participate in exercises in Hungary. 115 This
close training cooperation led to considerations of a more for-