Sweden sends eight fighter jets to Libya

Source: The Swedish Wire

Sweden's prime minister said Tuesday the government would ask parliament to contribute eight Gripen fighter jets to Libya, but insisted they not be involved in ground strikes.

"The government has decided today ... to put to parliament the proposal to participate with JAS Gripen (jets) in the international military operation in Libya under the leadership of NATO," Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said in parliament.

The prime minister said an official request from NATO for a Swedish contribution had come earlier Tuesday.

Reinfeldt stressed the Swedish jets would be sent only to enforce the international no-fly zone and "would not be allowed to participate in bombing ground targets."

Read more: http://www.swedishwire.com/politics/9146-sweden-sends-eight-fighter-jets-to-libya

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Sweden have been trying to sell their Gripen jet to the F-16 owners club (Denmark, Norway, Holland, Greece etc) for a long time, but have been outdone by the F22 and the Eurofighter. SAAB must be toasting in champagne because of this, they can have the Gripen prove its worth - and in cooperation with other western aircraft to boot.

It's gotta suck being a defence contractor in a neutral country.

http://www.airforceworld.com/fighter/eng/jas39_2.htm

I don't approve of our most recent effort at "regime change" followed by "nation building" but those Swedes know how to make a pretty plane.

They're going to help enforce a no-fly zone against a country that no longer has a meaningful air force.

They're not going to attack ground forces.

So, they're just there to burn fuel and look cool? I hope they're bringing their own fuel.

But it sounds like a complete waste, or a little theatre.

:thumbsdown: