Response to interpellation 2022/23:205 on the future home base for the country's radar surveillance aircraft
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned the future basing of the country's radar reconnaissance aircraft. M argued that the Armed Forces themselves decide the location based on operational capability, but emphasized that the world-leading aviation technology expertise in Linköping is a central part of Sweden's defense capability 1 2 3. S argued that Linköping is suitable due to established infrastructure, environmental permits, and unique expertise that has taken decades to build up 4 5. S also emphasized the importance of cooperation with Saab and FMV in Linköping 4. S expressed concern that a move would lead to lost expertise 5. M underlined that the investigation is an internal Armed Forces matter 2 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)
Mr. Speaker! Johan Andersson has asked me whether, in addition to Linköping, I am considering other alternatives for the location of future radar surveillance aircraft. Johan Andersson has also asked me on what grounds I will make the upcoming placement decision – whether it is for military-strategic reasons or if there are other reasons that will be weighed in.
The main task of the Armed Forces is to defend Sweden against an armed attack. The Armed Forces shall organize war units and take the other preparations required to be able to fulfill the authority's task.
It is the Riksdag and the government that, at an overall level, decide on the Swedish Armed Forces' war and basic organization. It is the Swedish Armed Forces that assess and decide where the future radar reconnaissance aviation shall be based. The basing location will be determined based on how the future radar reconnaissance aviation best contributes to the Swedish Armed Forces' operational capability.
Johan Andersson (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister of Defence Pål Jonson, for the answer! We have had a Social Democratic-led government for eight years, and during that time we have worked very intensively to rebuild the Swedish total defense with popular roots. We have increased the defense appropriations by over 100 percent.
I think it is heartening that the new government continues this work. In this work, radar surveillance aircraft and command aircraft are important to ensure that correct intelligence is obtained and that one can follow what is happening around us in our global environment. This applies not least in light of the situation we now have with unrest in our immediate vicinity.
An internal localization study is underway within the Armed Forces. It concerns where the radar reconnaissance aircraft should be located in the future. This has created a great deal of concern where it is currently located, namely in Linköping in connection with Malmen. The alternatives that have emerged have been a few: Linköping, Uppsala, and Sotenäs. It is common knowledge, and it has been out in the media.
The important thing here is, of course, our defense capability; there I can agree with the Defense Minister in his response. But it is also about competence, knowledge, and other opportunities that are linked to this.
The Special Flight Squadron, as it is called, in Malmslätt, Malmen, has provided airborne radar surveillance 365 days a year for over 25 years. The level of competence has meant that this cannot be found anywhere else in the country.
It is also about a cooperation with Saab in Linköping, which develops and manufactures the weapon system S 106, Jas Gripen and the like. Saab has today agreements with the Armed Forces to carry out parts of the aviation support. Saab is also utilized when it comes to development and other opportunities.
Furthermore, FMV has a large facility in Linköping where they test and evaluate various parts of this. They carry out tests, evaluations, modifications, etc.
FOI also works closely with the activities that currently exist in Linköping.
I can therefore, for my part, think that there is very much that speaks for the activity remaining in Linköping so that the competence that exists and the knowledge that has been established for a long time can be utilized.
It is also about the long period of education required to train military aircraft technicians etcetera - somewhere between six and eight years. It is also very much about supervised practice by older technicians for this to be successful and for us to be as successful as possible.
My follow-up questions to the Minister for Defence are: On what grounds will the decision be made which the Swedish Armed Forces will subsequently make regarding the localization? And what alternatives does the Minister for Defence see linked to this?
Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Johan Andersson, for the interpellation! It is a somewhat difficult interpellation to answer for me, because in part it is not certain that the government and the Riksdag have command over this depending on how the investigation turns out. It is also difficult to anticipate an investigation - this said with all due respect.
I appreciate that Johan Andersson highlights both the government's and the opposition's work linked to defense policy. I usually remind that defense policy is a team sport, where we strive to do things together. The government has the Defense Preparedness Board as its forum for the design of long-term security and defense policy with the parties in the Riksdag.
It is important that we strive for this consensus, and it is also reflected in today's debate topic, which concerns the design of the war and basic organization. It is therefore the Riksdag and the government that decide on the Armed Forces' overall design, both regarding the war and basic organization. In the ordinance with instructions for the Armed Forces, there is a list of the organizational units, regiments, and geographical locations that are part of the Armed Forces. That is the basic organization itself.
When it comes to the war organization, Johan Andersson, as an experienced Member of Parliament, knows that we made the decision on this on December 15, 2020, in this chamber, when we adopted the defense decision for 2020. That is the basis. In that war organization, it is stated that the special aviation division shall be a separate war unit. It is at this overarching level that the Riksdag and the government make organizational and localization decisions. Based on the established war and basic organizations, the Swedish Armed Forces in turn decide where the various units can be stationed and from where their activities shall be conducted.
I will try to answer Johan Andersson's important questions. I completely agree with him that there is a very strong competence in the Linköping area, not least in the aerospace field. I dare to assert that it is a world-leading cluster of actors in the field.
What I believe will be governing the design of the response - I imagine without anticipating the investigation - is how this affects the Armed Forces' operational capability. Naturally, one will also need to weigh in aspects such as personnel supply, infrastructure, environmental permits, and a number of other parameters.
This is an investigation that the Armed Forces themselves have taken the initiative for. It is not a mission that the government has given to the Armed Forces. Therefore, I have no insight into it and have not received any part-report, but when the investigation is complete, there is an opportunity for me to review it. This naturally also applies to Johan Andersson within the framework of the Defence Committee.
Johan Andersson (S)
Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for Defence for the supplementary answer.
I can fill in a bit regarding the current situation. When it comes to the infrastructure, which the Minister for Defence spoke about, it has been well-established for a long time. One has runways. One has the required permits. One has had full environmental permits for a long time.
Aviation activity can, at times, be perceived as disturbing by the population. In Linköping, I would argue that it is very well established. Just as the Minister for Defence said, Linköping is in many ways Sweden's aviation capital. There is a very broad competence regarding this.
The concern I see if a move were to take place is the obvious risk of losing a great deal of competence that takes a long time to build up - knowledge, experience, and other parts. Then, I am well aware that the defense technical capability must be decisive for localization and other things, but consideration must also be taken to maintain the competence that exists and the infrastructure that today is connected to the facility where it is already established.
One can continue to develop. We probably have an ambition to be able to develop even more in that part. We know that it will become even more important to be able to obtain intelligence and to be able to monitor movements. Not least in the restless times we live in now, with what is happening in our immediate vicinity, this feels extra urgent.
Much of this is therefore already built up today, which should affect how the continued process will look.
I have a follow-up question for the Minister of Defence linked to this: When is this announcement expected to come? When is the investigation expected to be completed? It has been ongoing for about a year, and there is naturally a concern both among those who are currently directly active in this and among the actors around it. I have listed who they are, so I will not repeat it. But when will an answer be delivered on where the geographical location should be?
Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)
Mr. Speaker! I have all the respect for that people can feel anxiety if there are organizational changes to operations. It can affect the job and daily life, and I have, as I said, all the respect for that. I also have all the respect for that Johan Andersson stands up for his constituency - this is indeed operations that are located in Östergötland. That is exactly how it should be in a representative democracy.
I also expect the interpellor to respect that I cannot anticipate an ongoing investigation that I have not appointed myself, but which is being conducted at the agency level. The outcome of that investigation may, or may not, affect the government and the Riksdag. It is a bit too early for me to either review or intervene in it. That investigation must be allowed to run its course.
I would still like to highlight the capability we are discussing and which is very important, namely the radar surveillance aircraft. It is about the airborne sensor, and in that, we have uniquely strong competence in Sweden, both industrially and within the Armed Forces. It is also about the future basing of the platform called Global Eye. It is a sensor with very long range and high resolution. It is very important for the Armed Forces' capability for early warning in the event of a risk of armed attack.
But this is also, as Johan Andersson knows, a narrow sector. We have a very limited number of platforms. Consequently, it naturally becomes extra important how the function is organized and that one truly thinks through several of the aspects that Johan Andersson raises. The operational capacity will naturally be affected by the fact that it is ultimately people who are to do this, so one should have a good personnel supply and a good chain of functions throughout the entire "ecosystem" which I previously mentioned with environmental permits, co-location benefits, recruitment, etc.
Regarding the investigation, I have understood that it is largely complete. I do not know when it will be finished. It is, as mentioned, an internal defense force investigation, and I have not received any partial report. When it is finished, there is an opportunity for both Johan Andersson within the framework of the defense committee and me to review it.
Johan Andersson (S)
Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister of Defence for the answer. It became somewhat clearer. I am pleased that we nevertheless have a consensus when it comes to infrastructure and all other follow-up effects linked to where the future localization will be. Not least does it concern the supply of competence, as I interpret the answer from the Minister, which is very crucial in many respects to be able to maintain this.
There is a connection to, which the Minister for Defence also mentioned. We have a great aviation competence in Linköping, both industrially and militarily and in other ways. There are also opportunities for future development here when it comes to the export sector and other parts. Even if it may not be a primary task for the Defence, it is important for the country.
There I also want to emphasize that there is every possibility to use the successful work we have done in the country regarding the radar surveillance aircraft and to develop this further in the future. I assume that this is also taken into account in connection with the ongoing process.
Then I look forward with anticipation to a positive decision in the future regarding the investigation. As I understood from the Minister for Defence, it is very close to being finished, so a decision should come soon. Then we naturally hope for a positive one.
Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the debate, Johan Andersson!
I do not have much more to add, but Johan Andersson raises an important issue that I will also soon have the opportunity to discuss with Johan Andersson's colleague Markus Selin in this chamber, namely upcoming combat aircraft.
Let me be very clear about one thing: The defense industry and the defense industrial capability we have in Sweden also constitute a part of our collective defense capability. In light of the experiences we can now draw from the war in Ukraine and the pressure that exists on the defense industry across Europe because everyone is to grow at the same time, the defense industry, including that cluster of strong aerospace competence of partly world-leading character that exists in Linköping, constitutes a central part of our own defense capability. To that, I can say that the airborne sensor, Global Eye, is also a uniquely qualified platform with very high operational effectiveness.
There are, therefore, every reason to nurture the defense industrial capability that exists, not least in Östergötland and Linköping.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.