SwAF reflects on Libyan mission

08 November 2011 - by Beth Stevenson - shephardmedia.com

Following Sweden’s completion of its role in the NATO mission in Libya last week, a military official has described lessons learned from the reconnaissance missions carried out by the Swedish Air Force’s (SwAF’s) JAS 36 Gripen aircraft during the conflict.

The Block II variant of the Saab Gripen 'should come in next year' for the SwAF, which is using experience from Operation Karakel – the Swedish name for Operation Unified Protector – to modify the aircraft, Maj Anders Gustafsson, acting squadron leader and Swedish liaison officer during the conflict, told a media briefing in London on 8 November.

'We had some robustness problems to begin with,' Gustafsson said of the Terma-built reconnaissance payload, 'but we dealt with it during the campaign.'

The SwAF took some 250,000 surveillance pictures during its time in Libya, and the 'high quality and quick delivery of these pictures was greatly appreciated', Gustafsson stated.

He described how the Block II variant will include an IR camera to complement the EO sensor currently available. Gustafsson said that while the Lightening III laser designator pod was used during the Libya mission, an upgraded IR camera would be incorporated as part of the Block II design.

The Block II upgrade would also have a more secure communications system, an HMD, more weapon stores and types of weapons, and a more advanced and flexible cockpit system.

During FL01, the original requirement from NATO for three months of reconnaissance work, eight JAS 36 Gripen aircraft and one C-130 refuelling aircraft were deployed alongside 130 personnel for the SwAF, and during the six week FL02 a rotation of five Gripen aircraft and 110 personnel were deployed.

During the mission, the air force had to make several modifications to its force in order to prepare for a NATO operation, such as flying both C and D variants of the Gripen for interoperability, and using English as a first language throughout.

Another consideration for future missions was air-to-air refuelling, with Gustafsson noting that the SwAF needed more frequent training to improve the process.

However, he did conclude by stating: 'Generally we felt we were very well prepared and correctly trained and this is difficult to say in live operations.'