Operations
Sweden Eyes Expedited Gripen Fighter Turnaround Times
NATO’s newest member preparing to rearm fighters in less than 10 minutes
Gripen taxiing down road
During an annual training exercise, aircraft from F7 Såtenas land on a highway and are refuelled and rearmed by turnaround crews of six.

Amid a backdrop of increasing Russian aggression, the Swedish air force is preparing to further refine its dispersed operations: eyeing an expedited turnaround of its Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters. This enhanced off-base expertise comes as NATO’s newest member continues to contribute its unique skill sets to the organisation, including prioritizing offensive capabilities.

Speaking at a press briefing in July, air force chief Major General Jonas Wikman explained that Sweden is “now going towards a lighter footprint on dispersed operations in order to keep an even higher pace.” Sweden has long valued its fighters’ ability to operate from austere locations as part of an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, and it is now looking to reduce this turnaround time from 15 minutes to below 10. 

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