Swedish Armed Forces/Försvarsmakten

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Les 2 premières Visby, les HMS Helsingborg and HMS Härnösand sont maintenant opérationnelles au sein de la troisième flotille basée à Karlsrona

Le Gävle ( K22 ) et le Sundsvall ( K24 ) passant par Kiel le 06-06-11. Les 2 unités participent aux exercices Baltops2011

Citation :

Sweden reaches new deal on Libya mission



Published: 8 Jun 11 09:22 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Updated: 8 Jun 11 10:37 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/34228/20110608/

The Swedish government has reached an agreement with the Social Democrats and the Green Party to extend the country's military mission in Libya.
According to the agreement, which was unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday morning, Sweden will contribute five JAS Gripen fighter planes as well as a naval boarding team.

"We're going to present a bill tomorrow morning," foreign minister Carl Bildt said during a Wednesday morning press conference announcing the agreement.

"There will be more surveillance operations that what we've been able to achieve so far."

He added that the Swedish mission in Libya could continue even after a ceasefire.
Bildt was joined by Social Democrat foreign policy spokesperson Urban Ahlin and Green Party spokesperson Åsa Romson to announce details of the agreement.

"Most people clearly believe that today is not the day to stop supporting Libya's civilians and it's not the day to end the no-fly zone," said Romson.

"It's time to increase the humanitarian mission and help with the refuges situation."
Exactly how large the boarding team will be is up to the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) to determine, as is exactly which type of soldiers are best suited for the job.
On Tuesday, Left Party leader Lars Ohly released preliminary details about the agreement following a briefing with Bildt, even though his party would not be a part of the deal.
He said the Swedish team of soldiers tasked with boarding ships would fall under British command.
According to Ahlin, the force could be in place within a few days following a formal Riksdag decision on the matter.
The current Swedish mission in Libya consists of a squadron of eight Gripen fighters sent to enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone which came into force on March 17th.
Officials from NATO, which took over responsibility for the foreign military mission in Libya on March 31st, have asked the Swedish government to extend the Gripen surveillance mission.
The deal comes following weeks of uncertainty about whether the government could strike a deal with the Social Democrats after an April 28th interview with the TT news agency in which party leader Håkan Juholt ruled out keeping the Sweden's Gripen aircraft in Libya.
On May 18th, the party proposed extending Sweden's military presence in Libya, but with a naval contribution rather than simply supporting the no-fly zone.
On Monday, however, Ahlin said the Social Democrats were open to allowing one or two planes to remain in Libya.
The agreement means that during a visit to Brussels on Wednesday, defence minister Sten Tolgfors can tell his NATO colleagues exactly what Sweden is prepared to offer.
NATO has proposed extending the current military mission in Libya another 90 days from July 1st.
An extension of the mission requires a new bill to be presented in the Riksdag before June 22nd.
The previous agreement on the current mission included all political parties except the far-right Sweden Democrats.

Citation :

Sikorsky Announces Teaming Agreement with Saab to Support Sweden’s BLACK HAWK Helicopters

PARIS, France | Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced today the signing of a teaming agreement at the Paris Air Show with the Swedish defence and security company Saab to support the fleet of 15 UH-60M helicopters recently purchased by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

Under the teaming agreement, SAS and Saab, Sweden’s largest defense contractor, will provide logistics support for the UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopters. The program, designated HKP 16, will be operated by the Swedish Air Force in Linköping, the main base for maintenance, inspections and repairs. The agreement will commence when the first UH-60M helicopter is delivered later this year.

“We look forward to working with Saab to ensure this powerful aircraft operates at peak readiness rates and enables the Swedish Air Force to successfully conduct their missions,” said David Adler, President of Sikorsky Aerospace Services.

The purchase of the 15 Sikorsky UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopters by the FMV under the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program was announced last month. The Swedish Armed Forces intend to use the aircraft for medical evacuation, utility, and search and rescue missions.

“This is yet another key step in our efforts regarding maintenance, support and training in the helicopter field. Our collaboration with Sikorsky means that we are building up expertise with regard to Sweden's new helicopter system that has recently been purchased from the USA,” said Lars-Erik Wige, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Support and Services, Saab AB.

The UH-60M helicopter is the latest version in the long and highly successful BLACK HAWK family. It provides additional payload and range, advanced digital avionics, improved handling qualities and situational awareness, active vibration control, and improved survivability compared with the predecessor UH-60L model.

The BLACK HAWK helicopter is well known for its ruggedness, survivability and mission flexibility, having logged more than 9 million flight hours since the first model was introduced in 1978. Worldwide, approximately 2,700 are in operation today. Sweden will become the 26th nation to operate BLACK HAWK helicopters and only the second in Europe, where Austria operates UH-60L models. Sikorsky is scheduled to deliver six of the helicopters in 2011 and the remainder in 2012 under an accelerated production schedule.

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Citation :

SOURCE:Flight Daily News
Swedish air force chief hails Gripen's role in Libya


Saab has been awarded the latest in a series of contracts to further development activities on its Gripen C/D fighter for the Swedish air force.

To run until early 2013, the Swedish kronor 152 million ($23.8 million) deal will enhance the navigation system capabilities of the Gripen in its version 19 operating standard, which is now involved in NATO's Operation Unified Protector over Libya.

Eight Gripen Cs have flown more than a combined 180 sorties from Sigonella air base in Sicily since early April, with their current emphasis being on providing digital reconnaissance imagery. The aircraft also carry laser designator pods, but have not dropped weapons or provided targeting services for other nations' aircraft during the campaign.

Swedish air force inspector general Maj Gen Anders Silwer briefed journalists at the show on Wednesday, less than a week after the nation's parliament extended his service's "Karakal" contribution to the Libya campaign by a further three months. The new mandate will see five Gripens perform reconnaissance missions over a wider area of Libyan territory. "Before we had a little bit of a limitation, but now we are more integrated into the process - except from the targeting," Silwer said.

Silwer said its Gripens have performed well so far in what is Sweden's first such operational commitment in 50 years, and that the first use of a new Link 16 datalink capability has added a valuable capability to the type's interoperability.

Meanwhile, Silwer revealed that the first pilots for Sweden's future fleet of 15 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters began training to operate the type at the US Army's Fort Rucker site in Alabama on 20 June. Deliveries will commence next year under the deal, which will cover for the late availability of the nation's NH Industries NH90 transports in another current theatre of operations.

"On 1 April 2013 we will be in Afghanistan [with Black Hawks]; or I won't be here," said Silwer.

Citation :

SOURCE:Flight International
Sweden nears decision on C-130 avionics upgrade

The Swedish air force is nearing a decision on a long-planned avionics modernisation programme for its Lockheed Martin C-130H transports, according to the service's inspector general, Maj Gen Anders Silwer.

"We have offers, and the FMV [Defence Materiel Administration] is looking at them right now," Silwer said at the Paris air show on 22 June. "We don't have a decision yet, but the requirement is funded."

Flightglobal's MiliCAS database records the Swedish air force's oldest of eight C-130s as having been delivered in 1965, while its five most recent examples entered use in 1981.

Stockholm had previously planned to put its eight-strong Hercules fleet through the US Air Force's Boeing-led C-130 avionics modernisation programme, but Silwer said its interest ended when proposed unit costs increased after Washington reduced the scale of its upgrade project.

One of Sweden's C-130s - 1969-vintage aircraft 842 - saw use as a tanker during the early part of the air force's "Karakal" contribution to NATO's Unified Protector campaign over Libya.

This has since returned to Sweden, where it is now being used to support additional air-to-air refuelling training for pilots flying the Saab JAS39 Gripen. The air force's Gripen detachment at Sigonella in Sicily now relies on tanker support from US Air Force McDonnell Douglas KC-10s and Boeing KC/C-135s from the US and French air forces while performing reconnaissance missions over the Libyan mainland.

In addition to operating its C-130s, Sweden also is a partner in NATO's Strategic Airlift Capability programme, through which it pays for 500 flight hours a year on the Heavy Airlift Wing's three Boeing C-17 airlifters.

Citation :

HiQ International Wins New SEK 13.1 Million Order from Swedish FMV



STOCKHOLM | HiQ has received a new order from FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The SEK 13.1 million order is for the maintenance of simulators for training fighter pilots on the JAS 39 Gripen.

“HiQ has worked with FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces for more than a decade and a half. This latest assignment involves developing systems further and integrating systems in the best, most cost-effective way in order to satisfy current training requirements for JAS training simulators,” says Anders Nilsson, Managing Director of HiQ Mälardalen.

The simulators, which are used to train both Swedish and foreign pilots to fly the JAS 39 Gripen, are developed in parallel with the aircraft itself. Simulators are used for flight training and tactical training of pilots, and also for training technical personnel. The advantage of flying a simulator rather than a real aircraft is that the costs of a pass in a simulator are considerably lower. In addition, personnel can be trained for situations that cannot be carried out during a real flight for safety reasons.

“As I see it, the agreement with FMV demonstrates how much our client values the quality and expertise that we offer not just in the development of training simulators, but also in modelling and simulation. We are also very proud of our close partnership with the rest of the defence industry in this area – a partnership that we have deepened further in recent years. Training simulators for the JAS 39 Gripen represent advanced technology that requires knowledge not only of the domain concerned, but also specialist expertise in technical communication, integration, testing and simulation – which in our case are enhanced by a close working relationship,” says Anders Nilsson.

“HiQ has many years’ experience of working on high-tech training simulators. With the rapid developments in technology, we expect demand for expertise in simulation technology to remain strong – both for military and for civil applications. We are naturally very proud of our strong partnership with FMV,” says Lars Stugemo, President of HiQ International.

defpro

Citation :

Swedish Gripens in Libya operation sustain level of reconnaissance despite fewer planes

Although the number of airframes has been limited in accordance with Parliament's decision, the unit FL 02 (Flying operation Libya 02) continues to provide information to the higher staff of NATO with the same frequency as before. The unit's technicians FSC, Fighter Support Coy, must work hard in the heat.

“We soon realized that a precondition to keeping the aircraft fleet running was to introduce a shift system for staff. We are now working with one shift between the hours of 0700 and 1600 while the second shift starts at 1500 and continues until the work is done. It often adds up to 12 to 14 hours”, says Kent Stråhle, Head of the FSC.

The heat in Sicily is something that the staff has to deal with.

“There are few of us who are accustomed to working in this heat. Almost every day we have temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees on the tarmac”, continues Kent.
In an attempt to limit the effect of the heat on the staff there are air conditioned vehicles on the tarmac, which staff can jump into to cool off a bit during their shift.

“It is also important to drink plenty of fluids. We drink about 4-6-litres of water per day”, concludes Kent.

But it is not only the staff that is affected by the heat. The wear and tear on the equipment is also harder than normal. The tyres are the most affected by the heat as they wear out quickly on the hot track. The strain during take-off and landing considerably shortens the lifespan of the tyres.

“We bring spare parts and tools to change tyres and repair the wheels here on the base. It takes about three hours to dress a wheel and so far we have changed just over ten tyres,” says Cit Claesson.

defpro

Citation :

Sweden Participates with Gripen at BIAF 2011

Sweden will participate with Gripen fighters at the Bulgarian International Aviation Festival (BIAF) on 3-4 September 2011.

The Swedish Air Force will participate in the event with four Gripen fighters. SwAF pilot Martin Hansson will perform a stunning air display during both Saturday and Sunday. Gripen will also be shown on the static display.

Saab invites all BIAF visitors to their stand to meet the team and to learn more about the Swedish Gripen fighter. Invited guests will also get a chance to test their flying skills in the Gripen simulator.

Gripen is in operational service with the Swedish, Czech Republic, Hungarian, South African and Royal Thai Air Forces. The UK Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) is also operating Gripen as its advanced fast jet platform for test pilots worldwide.

In March 2011 the Swedish Government delivered a response to the RFI of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence concerning the fighter procurement. The Swedish offer includes eight new Gripen fighters, a flexible financial solution and offset to be delivered by Saab.

Representatives of Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen fighter; the Swedish Defense and Security Export Agency (FXM) and the Swedish Armed Forces will attend the air show.

“We are looking forward to taking part in the air show and are proud to see the Gripen fighter flying in Bulgaria. It will be a show worth seeing,” says Daniel Boestad, Vice President at Saab, Central and Eastern Europe, Balkans.

defpro

Citation :

BAE Systems Conjures Up Invisibility Cloak

05 Sep 2011 | Ref. 162/2012

CV90120 Adaptiv side on

CV90120 Adaptiv side on

ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, Sweden. – BAE Systems has tested an ‘invisibility cloak’ that allows a vehicle to blend into its surroundings. The system, which can work over infra-red and other frequencies, will be displayed in infra-red mode on a BAE Systems CV90 armoured vehicle at the UK Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition later this month.

Known as "Adaptiv", the patented technology is based on sheets of hexagonal 'pixels' that can change temperature very rapidly. On-board cameras pick up the background scenery and display that infra-red image on the vehicle, allowing even a moving tank to match its surroundings. Alternatively, it can mimic another vehicle or display identification tags, reducing the risk of fratricide.

Current work focuses mainly on the infra-red spectrum, as this is most important to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), which funds part of the work. However, BAE Systems engineers have combined the pixels with other technologies, which provide camouflage in other parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum at the same time to provide all-round stealth, which will be developed further over the next few years.

Trials by BAE Systems in mid-July showed that one side of a CV90 could be made effectively invisible or appear to be other objects, including a 4x4 vehicle, when viewed in the infra-red spectrum.

Project manager, Peder Sjölund explains: "Earlier attempts at similar cloaking devices have hit problems because of cost, excessive power requirements or because they were insufficiently robust. Our panels can be made so strong that they provide useful armour protection and consume relatively low levels of electricity, especially when the vehicle is at rest in 'stealth recce' mode and generator output is low."

He adds: "We can resize the pixels to achieve stealth for different ranges. A warship or building, for instance, might not need close-up stealth, so could be fitted with larger panels."

Further images available upon request.

http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_1118592745.html

Citation :

La marine suédoise à la recherche d’un possible sous-marin espion


Plusieurs bâtiments de la marine suédoise avaient été envoyés jeudi dans le port de Gothenburg, à la recherche d’un possible sous-marin qui aurait été surpris à espionner la Suède.



De présumées « activités étrangères de renseignement » font l’objet d’une enquête dans les eaux situées à l’ouest du port de Gothenburg, indique un communiqué des forces armées suédoises.

Un certain nombre de bâtiments ont été envoyés dans la région pour enquêter sur le signalement d’un sous-marin par une « source crédible », indique l’armée.

« Nous étudions actuellement ce rapport. Parmi d’autres choses, nous avons des bâtiments dans la zone qui participent à cette analyse. Cette région connait un important trafic maritime. Il est donc très important que nous annoncions ce que nous faisons, » a indiqué dans le communiqué l’inspecteur naval Jan Thörnqvist.

Des bâtiments de la 3è flottille de Karlskrona, ainsi que de la 4è et du régiment amphibie de Berga près de Stockholm, patrouillent actuellement dans la région afin d’essayer de vérifier le rapport.

« A ce stade, nous n’avons aucun commentaire à faire sur ce qui a été observé, » a précisé Törnqvist.

« Nous utilisons toutes les ressources que nous jugeons bon et qui sont disponibles. »

Il a ajouté qu’il ne voyait aucune raison de mettre en doute cette observation, mais d’attendre plutôt que la marine suédoise ait terminé son analyse des faits.



The Local

on dirait l´histoire se repete dans ce pays

Citation :

Saab rationalise corvettes suédoises sonars

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=fr&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlenta.ru%26hl%3Dfr%26biw%3D1262%26bih%3D928%26prmd%3Dimvns&rurl=translate.google.fr&sl=ru&u=http://www.lenta.ru/news/2011/09/28/hydra/&usg=ALkJrhgEcZSWi4DmaXYm4cOLyCe3LtlibA

Le Uppland, 2 unité des 3 SM formant la classe Gotland, mise en service en 1996-97, quittant Polumouth fin Mai dérnier. La classe Gotland est une classe de SM doté d'un système AIP, connu pour être une des plus avancée niveau technologique que niveau signaux acoustiques à coté des U212 allemand et le Scorpène français, ceci peut expliquer le choix de l'USN de louer pour une période d'un an en 2005-2006 et qui a été renouvllée, le Gotland, pour developper les compétences techniques et tactiques de l'USN dans la lutte contre les SSK, dans le nombre ne cesse d'augmenter à travers le monde, constituant un danger pour les flottes US surtout dans le Pacifique. Cette classe qui a connu un seul succés à l'export ( qui peut être vu comme un échec !! ) à travers la vente d'une version "tropicalisée" à l'Australie avec un ToT en 87.

Conçus pour mener des missions de surveillance et des missions COMINT/ELINT en plus des missions traditionnelles AN/ASM ... Les Gotland peuvent aussi larguer des mines ( 48 mines ).

merci pour le résumé Fremo
est ce qu´ils sont encore en production/vente a l´export

Oui, les Gotlands étant considérés comme dépassés vers 2015, sont proposés en une version beaucoup plus développée. Kockums propose maintenant son projet A26 ( 2000T ), une version avancée des Gotland, ces SM devront remplacer les Sodermanland. Ces derniers qui vont quitter le service vers 2018 sont proposés aussi en version plus développé avec système AIP qui est en service actuellement chez les suédois ( je rappelle que les Sodermanland sont en service depuis 88 ssous le noms de la classe Vostergotland )

à coté de ces 3 classes, on trouve aussi les Collins, qui est une classe considéré parmi les plus lourd SSK du monde ( 3500T ) conçu pour les patrouilles dans les eaux chaudes et océaniques.

Ainsi Kockums propose 4 types de SM à l'export, mais toujours sans aucun succés ... à part un probable choix des norvégiens pour les A26 afin de remplacer ses Ula vers la fin de cette décennie.

Citation :

Ainsi Kockums propose 4 types de SM à l'export, mais toujours sans aucun succés

surement a cause de leurs regles restrctives qui ne favorisent que les pays bisounours..

esperons que certains choses evolueront chez nous d´ici 2018,ces Sodermanland seraient un bon debut

Je dirais plutôt qu'ils métrisent pas bien les méthodes du lobbying ( et donnent pas de "commissions", chose qui a été prouvé avec la perte du marché indien face aux français.

Quand aux Sodermanland, une opération de tropicalisation est nécéssaire, chose qui ne pose pas de problèmes pour Kockums, Les Collins n'avaient pas de problèmes dans ce sens. Mais une révision des système de combats et de com. semble nécéssaire, les Collins n'étaient pas adptes aux combats un certain temps à cause de ceci ( entre autres ). D'ailleurs c'est l'expérience des Collins qui a donné des grands coups à la crédibilité des produits suédois.

Swedish Navy training.

Spoiler:

Foto: Försvarsmakten/Jimmie Adamsson

Investigué pour avoir fais du shoping à ramener c’est achat personnel sur un avion militaire

Citation :

Smuggling scandal rocks Swedish Air Force

The Swedish military has been hit by a smuggling scandal stemming from the Air Force's just completed mission in Libya.

The alleged smuggling took place in connection with Sweden's contribution of several Gripen fighter planes to provide surveillance support to Nato operations in Libya.

As part of the operation, military supplies were flown between the Sigonella military base in Sicily, Italy and an air base in Sweden.

However, an inspection of crates containing the officers' personal items that arrived at the F21 air wing in Luleå in northern Sweden revealed that a number of personal items, including wine, liquor, toys, and home electronic equipment were included among the military materiel, the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper reported.

The items are believed to have been purchased at a duty-free shop for military personnel stationed at the Italian military base.

Citing an anonymous source at military headquarters, the local Västerbotten Kuriren newspaper reported that the items consisted mostly of presents purchased by Swedish officers for their families.

Now a total of 14 employees at the F21 air wing have come under suspicion of smuggling the items into Sweden illegally.

By including the items on military transports, the suspects were able to avoid paying both freight and customs duties or sales taxes.

While anyone is able to purchase duty-free items for personal use in another EU country and bring the items back to Sweden, the buyer is responsible for transporting the goods rather than using military transports.

Military police have since confiscated the items and reported the suspected smuggling to prosecutors in Luleå.

“We take this very seriously,” Katja Öberg Lundgren, a spokesperson for Sweden's military police, told the newspaper.

“Armed Forces transports shouldn't be used for private purposes”

Prosecutor Åke Hansson confirmed that his office had launched a preliminary investigation into the alleged smuggling of goods.

If convicted, those suspected of trying to circumvent import rules, would face fines.


TT/The Local/dl ([email=news@thelocal.se)

news@thelocal.se)[/quote[/email]]

Citation :

Saab receives order from FMV regarding Gripen system

Defence and security company Saab has received an order amounting to SEK 261 million [$39.65 million; €28.85 million - Ed.] from FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) for system maintenance and development studies regarding Gripen.

In accordance with the order from FMV, Saab will undertake continual maintenance and updates for the Gripen C/D in compliance with the Swedish Armed Forces' long-term planning for the Gripen system. Saab will also implement studies regarding further development.

Saab will also maintain the Gripen C/D system's operational capability. The order includes technical support, product maintenance, flight testing and flight simulator operation to ensure the operational capability of the Gripen system.

The total order amounts to MSEK 261 with the activities to be carried out during 2011.

defpro

Exercise Autumn Leaf 2011

Citation :

Units from the 191 Mech Bn, 91 Arty Bn, 193 Ranger Bn and the 1 CBRN Coy participated in the exercise Autumn Leaf in Boden, northern Sweden 8-15 November. The scenario is a high intensity conflict where Russia wants a free passage through northern Finland and Sweden when they invade northern Norway to control the natural resources in the Barents sea. Russia also wants to station troops on Gotland to control the Nord stream pipeline in the Baltic sea. Sweden didn't accept Russia's demands.. Finally a conventional enemy and not a bunch of criminals to fight against.

http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/upload/Forband/Utbildningsforband/Norrbottens_regemente_I19/H%C3%B6stl%C3%B6v/hostlov2011_web.pdf

Tank coy:



Artillery. Haubits 77B and an artillery hunting radar (ARTHUR):



Mout:




Medics:



Combat logistic coy:



Cv90AAV platoon:



Ranger battalion:




CBRN recce squad:

Citation :

Sikorsky Meets Accelerated UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopter Deliveries for Sweden




STRATFORD, Connecticut – Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), today delivered to the U.S. Army the fourth of 15 BLACK HAWK aircraft for further transfer to the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV).
Sikorsky is building and delivering all 15 UH-60M aircraft to an accelerated 18-month production schedule that began in May, 2011. Seven aircraft are on schedule for delivery to the U.S. Army September through December, with eight additional deliveries through the fall of 2012.

The FMV is procuring the 15 aircraft via the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program. The accelerated build schedule will enable the Swedish Armed Forces to deploy three UH-60M aircraft to Afghanistan in April, 2013. The Swedish Armed Forces will use the aircraft for medical evacuation, utility, and search and rescue missions.

“The Black Hawk Utility Helicopter (UH-60) is the world’s best current and future force utility helicopter,” said Gregory D. Gore, Deputy Project Manager, U.S. Army Utility Helicopters Project Office. “The UH-60 provides all commanders with rapid and agile maneuver capability through air assault, general support, command and control, and MEDEVAC missions. These features will provide Sweden an unparalleled asset to support their primary mission of medical evacuation and troop transport in Afghanistan as these aircraft are fielded in 2013.”

Gore made his remarks during the delivery ceremony today at Sikorsky Aircraft’s Stratford headquarters attended by senior members of the FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces.

Sweden is the first European country to acquire the U.S. Army’s UH-60M BLACK HAWK aircraft. Introduced into service with the U.S. Army in 2007, the ‘M’ model is the latest variant of the world’s most successful medium-lift military utility helicopter. Sweden’s aircraft come equipped from Sikorsky with an advanced flight control system to reduce pilot workload, full night vision device capability for night operations, and a state-of-the-art communications suite.

The U.S. Army will further modify the aircraft with a variety of equipment, including an exterior rescue hoist, gunner seats, armored floor, stackable litters, a cockpit heater and environmental control system.

Swedish aircrew — already flight qualified in UH-60M aircraft at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Ala. — will receive follow on unit training at the Swedish Air Force base in Linköping following the arrival of the first four unmodified aircraft in Sweden in early 2012. Sikorsky Aerospace Services and Swedish defense and security company Saab will provide maintainer training and long-term logistics support for the fleet.
“Close collaboration with the U.S. Army is enabling Sikorsky to build these UH-60M BLACK HAWK aircraft 18 months ahead of a typical production schedule,” said John Pacelli, Sikorsky’s Vice President for International Military Business. “We’re very pleased our joint efforts will meet Sweden’s urgent requirement for new helicopters and associated training and logistic support in time for deployment.”

BLACK HAWK helicopters of all variants flown by the U.S. Army in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of war have accumulated more than 1.3 million fleet flight hours without a single Class A material failure. The combined operational sortie rate in both theaters stands at 85 percent. The U.S. Army’s total BLACK HAWK helicopter fleet exceeds 1,945 aircraft.

Source and photo: Sikorsky

HMS Altair ( A501 ),HMS Argo ( A504 ) et HMS Astrea ( A505 ), navires-école de la marine suédoise utilisés pour la formation initiale, de naviguation essentiellement.

photos prises à Norrkoping le 17-11-11

Les Gripens en dogfight avec les F-15

Citation :

U.S., Swedish air forces conduct squadron exchange program




11/22/2011 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFNS) -- Swedish Air Force and 48th Fighter Wing airmen participated in a week-long squadron exchange program here, which concluded Nov. 18.
Swedish JAS-39 Gripen pilots went up against F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle pilots in simulated combat scenarios to train with and learn from each other.

The 493rd Fighter Squadron "Grim Reapers," operating the F-15Cs, acted as hosts for the Gripen fighters and their crew. The 492nd Fighter Squadron "Madhatters" and 494th Fighter Squadron "Panthers," operating the F-15Es, also participated in the training.

"I thought the training was a huge success, and to work with our sister wing from Sweden was outstanding," said Capt. Mike Culhane, the 493rd FS C-flight commander. "We executed our mission along with the Swedish pilots seamlessly. We were very impressed with the Gripen; it's a very capable aircraft."

For the Swedish pilots, they said it was a great opportunity to learn and fly in a different location.

"It's really good for our new guys to be in a new environment and see how things work at another base, a whole other country," said 2nd Lt. Jonas Eriksson, a Swedish Gripen pilot.

The training centered on air-to-air exercises between the American F-15s and Swedish JAS-39s, allowing the pilots of both airframes to gain experience with dissimilar aircraft. Some of the training consisted of basic fighting maneuvers against the F-15s and large force employments scenarios.

"The aim for us is to improve our interoperability and to fly against aircraft different than ours," said Lt. Col. Joergem Marqvardsem, who is the Swedish Air Force 211 commander and Gripen pilot. "For most of our pilots this is the first time flying against F-15s, so the training was superb in attaining that experience."

The exercises also provided an opportunity for allies to come together and form friendships.

"U.S. Air Forces in Europe is important to Sweden, so the main thing with this training is to continue the long-lasting friendship between our two nations," said Maj. Lars Karlsson, the Swedish Air Force 211 Squadron project officer. "We are very pleased and impressed with the hospitality, resources and support we received from the 48th Fighter Wing and want to return the favor by inviting them for training to our wing in Sweden next time."

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123280922