The Quest for Relevant Air Power

swedish Air Force │ 301
Yet, Swedish combat and reconnaissance aircraft were not
purely relegated to border watch missions and territorial defence
tasks. They also actively participated in UN missions, as in 1958
when five Swedish aircraft were sent to Lebanon for surveillance
missions. 120 Soon afterwards, Swedish combat aircraft were readied
for a UN mission in the former Belgian Congo. After the declaration
of the country’s independence, the Katanga province also
declared independence and separated itself from the rest of the
country, which led to a civil war. To stabilise the situation, the
Swedish government deployed combat aircraft in late 1961. On
two occasions, Swedish pilots conducted successful offensive
counterair missions against the Katanga Air Force, wiping out
substantial parts of it on the ground. Moreover, Swedish aircraft
protected UN convoys and gave fire cover to UN ground forces.
First supported by Indian and Ethiopian combat aircraft, the
Swedish unit operated on its own in the autumn of 1962, when the
situation became tense again. The mission lasted until 1963. 121 Not
only Swedish combat aircraft but also transport aircraft contributed
their share during the Cold War. In 1952 the SwAF’s transport
unit conducted its first international relief flights to Holland,
and very soon, it expanded its missions to numerous disaster areas
around the world. 122
In the post–Cold War era, the SwAF has continued to be ready
for real operations. With regard to international operations, the
Air Force’s contributions have so far been confined to the lower
spectrum of military force, given the country’s legacy of neutrality.
Swedish Aerial Readiness and Potential Future Scenarios
The SwAF has continued to patrol the Swedish airspace and the
Baltic Sea in the post–Cold war era. Swedish combat aircraft have
remained ready to scramble in case of an emergency. While the
number of military flights over the Baltic Sea has considerably
decreased, 11 September underlined the importance of aerial
readiness. 123 In the immediate aftermath of the attacks against
New York and Washington, Swedish fighters patrolled the sky
over Stockholm. 124 The SwAF also maintained combat air patrols
during important events such as Pres. George W. Bush’s visit to the
EU summit in Göteborg, Sweden, from 13 to 15 June 2001, or
during the memorial service for the minister of foreign affairs,