APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090016-9
Of the 14 wings, 12 are based on 12 primary operating airfields in southern Sweden. The remaining two are based at Lulea/Kallax and Ostersund/Froson Airfields in northern Sweden.
3. Training (C)
The Training Office in Section II of the Air Staff handles training plans and policies, but the various flying training schools are under the direct control of the Commander in Chief of the Air Force.
The most significant air force schools and their locations are as follows:
- Air Force Academy, Uppsala Airfield
- Flying Training School, Ljungbyhed Airfield
- Halland Schools (technical, signals, and general troop training), Halmstad
- Roslagen Schools (radar, radar controllers, and air traffic controllers), Hagernas (near Stockholm)
- Helicopter School, Ronneby Airfield
- Weather School, Kalmar Airfield
Selected air force officers also attend the Royal National Defense College and the Royal Armed Forces Staff College, both located in Stockholm.
Conscripts normally receive 12 weeks of basic general military training, after which they are considered ready for service. The remaining 40 weeks of conscript duty are spent in practice and simulated exercises. Upon completion of compulsory service, training continues through participation in a refresher training program, which is closely tied to regular air force operations. Nevertheless, the value of this refresher training and readiness of the individual after active duty release are questionable. The quality of basic, specialist, and operational training is average. However, the output is considered adequate for current or projected air force needs, except for the pilot category where a shortage of experienced pilots exists. Three pilot training courses of approximately 75 students each are conducted yearly at Ljungbyhed Airfield. These flight training programs consist of 12 months of instruction in both prop and jet trainers. Upon completion of the 1-year program, pilots are assigned for 6 months to Uppsala Airfield where they undergo 65 hours of transitional training in the Draken aircraft as well as 25 hours in a flight simulator. They are then assigned to an operational conversion squadron for over 200 hours of operational training in the Draken. Air force pilots are limited to 120 flying hours per year, mostly in 15 to 45-minute flights.
4. Logistics (S)
The supply and maintenance system operates effectively in peacetime. However, inexperience in wartime requirements would be a tremendous handicap, particularly if the hostile action required continuous utilization of equipment. The transportation system would be heavily taxed to support air supply requirements above and beyond stockpiled items located near the dispersal areas, particularly in the north and the more remote areas. Sweden imports 70% of its petroleum fuels, oil, and lubricants (POL) from Western Europe and the Soviet Union. Each airbase and operational airfield has hardened underground storage facilities for fuel in sufficient quantities to support intensive flight operations for only 1 week. Total air force war reserves of fuel available in dispersed underground sites are estimated at 120 days. After exhaustion of this supply by wartime operations, Sweden would be dependent on outside sources.
The Planning Office of the Air Staff is responsible for broad logistic policies, materiel plans, and guidance. The Air Materiel Department, part of the unified Defense Materiel Administration, is responsible for detailed planning, procurement, and distribution of air materiel. It functions as both an air materiel command and as a research and development command. Common-use supplies are provided for the air force by the Defense Materiel Administration.
The air force operates maintenance depots at Arboga and Malmen Airfields where major overhauls, and repair and salvage of aircraft, engines, and missiles are accomplished. Because of a decrease in air force activities, the workshop at Hasslo Airfield (northwest of Stockholm) was closed as a maintenance workshop on 1 January 1970. The RSAF has a three-level maintenance system. The first is base-level, responsible for aircraft performance. The second level is regional workshop maintenance, and the third level is depot maintenance which performs general maintenance, repairs, and modifications.
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090016-9
