Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1488818
The Navies include light surface attack vessels, along with support ships. Finland operates Hamina- class and Ramina-class small missile boats, armed with RBS-15 missiles, five minelayers, and 3 minehunters. That potential is reinforced by a coastal anti-ship missile battery using truck-launched RBS-15 missiles, and numerous transport and landing vessels, as well as minesweepers. Four large corvettes are also being built right now, as a part of the Squadron 2020 program. Moreover, the border guard operates three large OPVs. The Swedish Navy operates 9 Visby- class, Goteborg-class, and Stockholm- class corvettes, armed with the RBS-15 missiles, along with one seagoing OPV, 11 smaller OPVs, seven minehunters, and 147 Stridsbåt 90H landing craft operated by the coastal defense units. Sweden also maintains a strong submarine component, with three Gotland-class, and two Södermanland-class subs, expected to be replaced by new Blekinge-class submarines later this decade. The Coast Guard operates additional 38 different, unarmed vessels. The coastal defense component is complemented by a single land-based anti-ship missile launcher battery. When it comes to the air force, Finland uses 62 F/A-18C/D Hornets and BAE Hawk trainers. The Hornets would soon be replaced by the F-35, selected as a result of the H-X tendering procedure. Finland also operates several airlifter types, including CASA C-295M (one in a SIGINT/ELINT configuration), Pilatus PC-12, and NH90 helicopters (20), along with 7 light MD500 helos. This potential is further enhanced by the air assets of the border authorities - two Do-228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and 12 helicopters. The backbone of the Swedish Air Force is formed by 96 JAS-39C/D Gripens. 60 brand-new Gripen-E jets have also been procured. These are expected to partially replace the legacy MRCA. Sweden also utilizes two Gulfstream IV SIGINT/ELINT aircraft, and two Saab 340 AEW platforms - soon to be replaced by Saab Global Eye. The radar, in this case, would be integrated on the Bombardier Global 6000 base platform. The helicopter fleet includes 20 light Agusta A109s, 15 UH-60M Black Hawks, and 18 NH90s, 9 in land variant, and 9 in a maritime configuration. The coast guard operates 3 patrol aircraft. The SOF, air-mobile, and long-range reconnaissance elements are also relatively small. Apart from the coastal defense marines, Sweden has one company-sized SOF unit, one long- range recon company, and one airborne battalion at its disposal. Finland has one professionalized SOF company, a training airborne company, and two coastal defense units that can be viewed as light infantry. The Armed Forces of both nations are quite similar - modern forces of medium-sized wealthy nations, with a purpose of defending their territories, and the capabilities of which have been largely defined by 3 relatively stable decades in Europe. So far, the main role of those forces was to engage in the defensive operation, in the event of a war, being outnumbered by the adversary, and making use of their advantages - including terrain, or high levels of autonomy at the lower levels of the command chain, army resources (including reserves of trained ANALYSIS