Aurora 17 - largest military exercise In Sweden for the last 20 years

[A.P. Richelieu]

Next week, Aurora 17 will start, the largest defense force exercise in Sweden in 20 years.

Over 20,000 people around the country will participate. And according to the Armed Forces, such major exercises will become more common. Flights, ships, and land groups. With the defense defense Aurora 17, the armed forces span the muscles. And just the size is important in this case. "The big advantage is that we have the opportunity to train together the three combat forces. All our operational and other functions, together with civilian authorities, says Thomas Karlsson, Deputy Exercise Manager for Aurora 17.

Aurora 17 Photo: SVT

More than 20,000 people will be included in the exercise that takes place mainly in Mälardalen, Stockholm, in and around Gotland and Gothenburg. In addition to Sweden, eight other countries participate.

Considering the size of the exercise, you expect certain challenges. "Because it is a very complex exercise with other actors such as civilian authorities and international actors, we expect some frictions that we will learn from," says Thomas Karlsson.

Soldier with weapons in urban environment It is more than 20 years since such a great exercise was held in Sweden. But already in 3 years it's time again. - This time there are about 22,000 participants. That size, with Swedish management, is planned approximately every three years. So in the plan is a new defense forces exercise in 2020, says Thomas Karlsson.

 

[UKBengali]

Sweden has an excellent defence industry for a country of only 10 million people.

Visited Sweden and full of very nice people.

 

[Vergennes]

 

[Vergennes]

@A.P. Richelieu

France for its part, mobilized the Escadron de défense sol-air 1/950 « Crau » (Air-Defense squadron 1/950 Crau ) usually based at the Istres air base. SAMP/T and Crotale systems will demonstrate their ability to respond to ballistic attacks or enemy aircraft intrusions into Sweden's airspace.

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[A.P. Richelieu]

http://www.gp.se/nyheter/västsverige/här-landar-jas-gripen-på-väg-i-västsverige-1.4629418

This link has a video from JAS Gripen landing on the roadside base

Road 44 is closed during Wednesday. The reason - eight JAS 39 Gripen uses the road as a runway. "We practice to be better at defending Sweden," says John Lidman, information manager at Skaraborg's fleet. At nine o'clock on Wednesday morning, road 44 between Lidköping and Grästorp was closed, and traffic began to be redirected. It took an hour for Skaraborg's fleet to turn the road into a fully functioning battle base, as SVT News West reported.

"At 10.05, the first fighter aircraft landed on the road," said John Lidman, information manager at Skaraborg's fleet. Since then it has been full speed. Eight fighter aircraft of the JAS 39 Gripen model have started and landed from the provisional battle base during the day. "We must be able to work from places other than our main base.

For an airport, it's an easy destination, so we want to be able to work from several places. Then there's a way to use the routes, says John Lidman. Road off But arranging such an exercise is not quite easy. This spring we only practiced to turn off a road - something that is enough work in itself. But with the help of the County Council, the Swedish Transport Administration and the Svevia road company, you can now take it one step further.

The battle pilot Philip has been behind the joystick in one of the combat plans during Wednesday. - It was fun, it was not just exciting. A challenge, he says. Philip is working on Skaraborg's fleet and this was the first time he landed on a road. "You need to be extra precise and be very accurate because the course is so short. You can not land too early and you land too far into the track if you do not slow down, you must be more than normal, "he says.

Why are you doing this exercise? - In order for us to land on such types of bases. In the event of war or escalation, we may need to spread us elsewhere than we normally think of. Intended for fighter aircraft On national road 44 between Lidköping and Grästorp there are four stretches of one kilometer which are a bit wider than normal. The idea is that the road should act as just an airfield in sharp situations. "Starting and landing on the road is no wonder, it requires a little more of the pilots because it's shorter. But the act as such is no big deal, John Lidman says.

That the practice coincides with the nationwide Aurora exercise is a coincidence, explains John Lidman. This is something that has been planned for a long time. - This exercise is our own practice, to develop our own ability, so it does not belong to Aurora. It has been planned for a long time. So that's the way it's dressed up, "said John Lidman. Highway 44 was the battlefield until two o'clock on Wednesday morning. Then one hour had to clean before the traffic was released again. The air force may be carrying out on-site exercises even on Thursday.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

@A.P. Richelieu

France for its part, mobilized the Escadron de défense sol-air 1/950 « Crau » (Air-Defense squadron 1/950 Crau ) usually based at the Istres air base. SAMP/T and Crotale systems will demonstrate their ability to respond to ballistic attacks or enemy aircraft intrusions into Sweden's airspace.

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Sweden is considering a major upgrade of SAM defenses,
and buying French equipment is one of two alternatives.
The other alternative is buying Patriot missiles from the US.

Buying Israeli stuff is probably not an alternative for the current government.
Would not be "politically correct" unfortunately.
The Israelis are the only ones that take a full scale approach to defense against Scud, Iskanders and the like.
@500 , which would be the best Israel equipment for such applications? David's Sling?

 

[500]

David's Sling is best vs. tactical ballistic missiles with range up to 300 km. Its on pair with Patriot Pac-3, but much cheaper.