The Quest for Relevant Air Power

320 │ Swedish Air Force
C4ISTAR
Due to Sweden’s strategic position and proximity to the Soviet
Union, early warning and rapid response were crucial for Swedish
defence preparations throughout the Cold War era. Hence, a sophisticated
intelligence gathering, processing, and response system
was indispensable. For this purpose, a highly integrated C2 system,
the Stril 60, was procured in the 1960s and early 1970s. 216
Stril 60 contained up to 40 surveillance radar stations, both stationary
and mobile, and other surveillance devices. Furthermore,
it could be fed with data from reconnaissance and patrol Viggens.
By means of data links, Swedish combat aircraft could be directed
under conditions of radio silence. Stril 60 was also connected with
Army GBAD batteries, the coastal surveillance and Navy C2 systems,
and the national civil defence organisation. 217 As such, Stril 60 was
an early attempt at modern network-centric warfare concepts.
Given Sweden’s emphasis upon the ability to counter limited
strategic attacks throughout the 1990s, the need for situational
awareness was given particular priority in the aftermath of the
Cold War. The Flygvapnet 2000 concept was specially designed for
this purpose, allowing for a free data flow between the different
systems, with the combat aircraft itself serving as an intelligence
collection platform. 218 As a consequence of these developments, the
integrated C2 system Stril 60 was supplanted by a new system, the
Stric, which became operational in October 1999. 219 Simultaneously,
a new data link system, the Taras, was introduced, particularly
designed to comply with the demands for an extension of data
transfer and the demands of electronic warfare–resistant communications.
220 Moreover, Taras was supposed to have a joint dimension
by linking naval and other platforms with Air Force assets. 221
The Flygvapnet 2000 concept also foresaw the introduction of
an autonomous Swedish airborne early warning capability, particularly
suited for detecting targets at low altitudes and at long
distances. The Swedish airborne radar surveillance system was
called FSR 890, while the complete system including the aircraft
was known as S 100 Argus. 222 According to the SwAF’s networkbased
defence approach, the FSR 890 had been designed to be
fully integrated into the Stric C2 system. By means of the Taras
data link, the airborne FSR 890 radar could be remotely controlled