An Air Defence for the Future

Summary of Carl Björeman's and Helge Gard's article in RSAWSPJ no 4 2001.

This article is a rejoinder to the 2000 annual study from the Air Warfare Section of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. Authors of the study are fellows of the Academy Colonel Bertil Wennerholm and Brigadier Stig Schyldt. The study was presented to the section in May, 2000. A summary (in Swedish) was published in no. 5/2000 of this journal, and a complete version appeared as a booklet in June, 2001.

We claim that the conclusions reached by Wennerholm and Schyldt concerning the dominating role of fighters in air defence are not backed up by the analysis of such air battles as are described in their study. We also claim that they have overestimated Sweden’s future need for aircraft. The real need for operations before the outbreak of and in a war is set out in an official Armed Forces document signed by the Supreme Commander, dated 19th May, 1999. The real need is 60-80 planes (including reserves) organized in five squadrons. However, in the Defence resolution of 30th March, 2000, it is laid down that the Armed Forces have to pay for and use 204 aircraft. The Supreme Commander accepted that - as do Wennerholm and Schyldt. In reality, they accept huge financial support for the industry. This support brings about a huge imbalance in the economy of the Armed Forces and that is one of the main reasons for the ongoing decline of Sweden's military capability.

We do not claim that Wennerholm and Schyldt should have to solve Sweden's grave air defence problems. But they had an exellent chance to give our politicians and other decision-makers relevant basic information. Alas, as far as fundamental issues are concerned, they did not.