|
Swedish Air Force Backs the Home Team
Within Sweden there’s a mix of common sense and pragmatism that underpins relations between the military, industry and even the body politic. It’s an attitude that’s almost unheard of elsewhere — while the buyers, builders and users of so many other major European defense programs are at each other’s throats, the Swedes are at the office getting on with the job.
Sweden’s air force chief General Jan Andersson provides a good example of this joined-up thinking when he gives his unqualified backing to the Gripen. He says clearly that the Swedish Air Force and its masters will support the Gripen for 25 or 30 years to come — or more. They will do so not only because it keeps the aircraft effective at doing its job, but because it’s good for the national aerospace industry, good for Sweden’s high-tech industry as a whole and, perhaps most of all, good for exports.
Andersson makes the point that it’s essential for his air force to support and enhance Gripen to maximize its potential on the export market and keep costs down for potential customers. If only things were so simple for Halbergmoos or Merignac …. — Robert Hewson
back
to ShowNews home
|
