The activity formed part of Easyrider, a series of air platform protection efforts led by the Royal Air Force Air and Space Warfare Centre and the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. At the centre of the trials were two Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft from FMV Test and Evaluation, which operated from RAF Coningsby.
The Gripen aircraft were used to test and assess next generation countermeasures designed to address emerging threats in modern operational environments. Their adaptability made them suitable for integrating and trialling these advanced systems. “Som provplattform i detta sammanhang är Gripen unik i sin förmåga att snabbt integrera och utnyttja nya funktioner och system,” says Martin Palmér Bouvin, campaign lead at FMV T&E Luft.
The activity was planned and conducted by the Air and Space Warfare Centre and Dstl with support from FMV, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, and the Swedish Air Force. Six flights were completed despite challenging weather conditions, providing high quality data for scientific analysis.
These results will inform future integration of advanced countermeasures on next generation NATO air combat platforms. “Proven i Viking flame visar tydligt hur väl och effektivt det bilaterala samarbetet mellan Sverige och Storbritannien fungerar. Vi fick utmärkt stöd från alla inblandade parter under hela operationen, inte minst från våra brittiska partners,” says Martin Palmér Bouvin.
The success of Viking flame highlights the value of close cooperation between NATO partners when addressing new threats. By combining expertise, resources, and innovative technology, Sweden and the United Kingdom have taken an important step toward improving the alliance’s ability to survive in the air.
Source: FMV.
