Sweden conducts first air drill with Denmark after joining NATO

Europe, News March 21, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The Swedish and Danish Air Forces conducted their first joint aerial combat training together as NATO allies. F-35 fighter jets from Denmark and JAS-39 Gripen jets from Sweden participated in the drills around Danish airspace.

According to a statement released by NATO, the training exercises highlighted the strong military collaboration between the Danish and Swedish air forces, underscoring their commitment to integrating and harmonizing various generations of fighter jets across the Nordic region.

Taking place primarily in designated training zones above the Kattegat waters, the drills featured individual fighter maneuvers and synchronized flights involving Danish F-35s from Fighter Wing Skrydstrup and two JAS-39 Gripens from Sweden’s Blekinge Flygflottilj stationed near Karlskrona in southern Sweden.

The two fleets conducted basic fighter maneuvers (BFM) side-by-side to learn how differently the planes fly. “Most often we fly BFM against our fellow F-35 pilots. The Gripen and Swedish pilots fly differently, so a 1 versus 1 match against them is a professional challenge. We get to test elements of our own tactics that we don’t normally do,” the Danish F-35 pilot said.

Lieutenant Colonel Erik Almquist, the Commanding Officer of the 172nd Fighter Squadron of the Swedish Air Force, said that a notable challenge addressed during the drills was the utilization of radio systems for communication by both participating parties. “The biggest challenge has been whether to speak English or Danish/Swedish on the phone during briefing and debriefing,” he added.

Sweden and Denmark F-35 and Gripen fighter jets — ^{Training drills involving the Swedish-produced JAS-39 and the American-produced F-35 underlined the need to ensure existing and new combat aircraft fleets cooperate and interact on the modern battlefield. (Image Credit: Swedish Air Force)}

“The Gripen and the F-35 belong to two different generations of combat aircraft, and they therefore have different characteristics to be able to contribute to the battlefield. As a 5th generation combat aircraft, the F-35 has a special ability to collect and process massive amounts of data, which it can subsequently share with other allies and actors”, Lieutenant Colonel Casper Borge Nielsen, head of the Air Command’s Combat Flight Department, said following the drills.

He further stated that the integration of the F-35 and the Gripen amplifies their collective operational prowess. The F-35’s capability to generate and distribute an unparalleled situational overview can be leveraged by the Gripen.

Conversely, the Gripen, as a sophisticated fighter aircraft, contributes additional firepower to the mission. This synergy benefits both fifth and fourth-generation fighter aircraft and, in a broader context, enhances the freedom and efficiency of land and naval operations.

Denmark is the newest NATO member state to operate the U.S.-made F-35 jets. During the last quarter of 2023, Denmark received the initial four F-35 combat aircraft to its territory, while an additional six aircraft remained stationed in the U.S. for training purposes. Denmark’s investment in the F-35 program encompasses a total of 27 combat aircraft, with the remaining 17 scheduled for delivery in the forthcoming years.