Med invasionen i sikte : en beskrivning och analys av flygvapnets luftoperativa doktrin 1958-1966

This essay is written for Stockholm’s University as a part of the advanced level course in Historywhen attending the National Defence College Senior Staff Course. The purpose of the essay is todescribe the Swedish Air Force war planning and Air Power Doctrine during 1958 to 1966. TheSwedish Doctrine was then not formally expressed, and must consequently be reconstructed. Amethod is used that describes a number of factors, including higher levels of political guidanceand orders from the Supreme Commander, lower tactical levels, fighters, Command and Controlsystems and procedures, the threat to Sweden as it was experienced at the time, war planning,cooperation with the Army and Navy and development of new systems. Furthermore this Doctrineis discussed from different perspectives in order to see their contribution to the understanding ofthe complex conception of a Doctrine. The source of information is mainly the Air Staff TopSecret Archives. Neither that archive nor the period 1958-1966 have been examined by historianswith reasonably similar purpose.Starting with the question of how a Swedish Air Operations Doctrine of 1958 to 1966 can bedescribed, this essay comes to the following conclusions:The supreme doctrine of non-alignment resulted in a relatively strong defence and an ambition tobecome as independent as possible regarding weapon systems. This meant a strong Air Force thatcould develop independently, including doctrinaire. Dimensioning for the Air Force was aninvasion by the Soviet Union, including nuclear attacks.With this as a background the Swedish Air Operations Doctrine 1958 to 1966 included thefollowing leading elements:- An aspiration for a relatively centralized command with the purpose to be able to masspower when and where needed.- A prioritized and developed Air Defence System, including air surveillance, tacticalcontrol, fighters and SAM systems, which focused on Soviet fast and high bombers andairborne invasion. Air to air aspects of Offensive Air Operations did not have priority.- The tasks of the fighter-bomber force changed somewhat during the period. An invasionover the Baltic Sea was in focus during the whole period, but in 1958 the range of taskscould include everything from Close Air Support to base attack on the other side of theBaltic Sea, preferably with nuclear weapons which the Air Force pleaded for. 1966 the AirForce completely focused on invasion by sea, with a secondary role of Air Interdiction incase of a ground invasion in the far north. The new trainer, SAAB 105, that was developedduring this period was however designated as a light attack aircraft for CAS.- A very dispersed base system, including the use of roads, considering the nuclear threat,which was designated to get the fighters airborne as fast as possible.Both a rationalistic and an organizational perspective have been found to add elements ofunderstanding to the development of the Doctrine. However have some differences in theircontribution been identified.