As the saying goes "Any progress is good progress!"

Finally got around to sort the chaff dispensers on the afterburner cooling inlets. Perhaps they're superfluous as I'm also planning to hang a BOZ-15 pod, but I guess you can't have enough ECM stuff, can you?

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Having done that, I also got another green layer on, leaving only the canopy framing to do at a later stage. A fiddly later stage, that is, but then again - it's just to get on with it. And then, obviously, the grey underneath, a little fill-in on the aluminium and then the blacks. Another day.

Looking 

Some grey on the belly of this one too, today, basically putting her at the same stage as the Lansens and the reconnaissance Tunnan.

Drakens were, obviously, also planned to be dispersed In wartime, and as with the Lansens, they frequently trained in situ.

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An interesting, if rather small, shot of a J35F taking off from a road base in southeastern Sweden back in 1968.

As a matter of interest what were the locals reactions when the roads were shut for these training exercises' ?

Quote from: NARSES2 on March 14, 2024, 02:23:56 AMAs a matter of interest what were the locals reactions when the roads were shut for these training exercises?

Generally very understanding. Our entire society was very much prepared for conflict, everyone having gas masks at home, and most of the men between 20 and 48 conscripted into rehearsal exercises of their military service at least on a five year basis.  In most school classes, about a fourth of the kids had family members either in active or reserve service at any given time, and the military presence in the society, meaning army units transporting themselves on public roads, the navy working in the archipelago and the air force either doing as per above or at least flying low (VERY low!), fast and everywhere on a regular basis, was very evident. We were used to it, and we liked the feeling of being able to fend off a by numbers only much stronger opponent.

Today, in particular all those not having experienced this even as kids, and in particular belonging to a generation where the mandatory military service wasn't in force, have a very different perception of any military presence in the society. Many feel threatened, others feel that the reclaimed military service (still only affecting about 8% of each age group) is a serious intrusion in their personal freedom. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised many peoples awareness, and there is a rather limited number of conscripts not wanting to serve. The main problem is the generations in between, i.e those too young for the old service and too young for the current, where the inability to understand the realities of freedom seem hard to grasp. In that group, and with significant support from old Kremlin huggers, there's much ado and many protests, ranging from actively trying to sabotage help to Ukraine to simple public opinion work in order to reverse the current rearming processes. However, while loud, these still are small in number, and there is a slid support across the parliament for Ukraine, and only the two leftmost parties even oppose the new Swedish NATO membership. In both cases, however, there is no active formal demands to leave, the opposition rather taking shape in a wish to not being dependent on the US. And that's actually, given the current outlook for the future, perhaps not as daft as it once looked.

There are also current discussions of extending the conscription also to females, as per the Israeli example, and already now, when females only can volunteer for military service, the female participation is substantial. There are many female soldiers and officers in active service, and they on average perform better than the average male (possibly due to better average motivation) and in particular in the navy, the female numbers are strong. Our current chief Admiral of the Navy is a woman (and a really good officer!). I believe that given enough time , i.e if we're left without a spread war in Europe, we will see a slow return towards a more vigilant society. Interestingly, many immigrants, having either direct but more often through parents or other relatives, experience from war or conflict, have shown great interest and ability to serve, forming a very valuable part of the armed forces of Sweden. Many bring a mindset of urgency and seriousness many young Swedes have not.

Whether we'll go back to having the 4th largest air force in the world as in the late 1950's - I think not. I do however think that we will see the deployable forces of the army at least tripled within ten years, and an even larger increase in our naval assets as those have been pointed out from NATO as being of common interest within the organisation. Air force - harder to say. From the four combat sqns we had ten years ago, we've already added two more and there is a decision taken on further two, meaning an effective doubling - but from very low numbers. And we already experience a serious lack of pilots.
Time will tell, and I hope we, the free world, can get our act together in such a way that Ukraine can throw the Russians out of their territory. That would be the absolutely cheapest way to guarantee European peace there is, and while not diminishing the need for a significant European military buildup, we would at least buy ourselves time.

As for the road base events - the roads were only closed during active start/landing, and as soon as the fighter was off the main road, traffic resumed. Hence the disruptions were rather small, and no significant delays caused.

The Finnish highway bases that are used for exercises are closed for road traffic for as long as the exercise takes. Usually a few days or a week. They are on main highways, and placed so that there are alternative routes to get past them. There is some need for crowd control because people like to go and see the action.

Nice one ! She was looking very British for awhile there lol. It's one of the only fighters I've never built, and would certainly like to try one !

Quote from: Captain Canada on March 14, 2024, 04:50:43 AMNice one ! She was looking very British for awhile there lol. It's one of the only fighters I've never built, and would certainly like to try one !

It'a a shape like nothing else, Cap'n, and should you like a try, the best game in town is Hasegawa. And that's irrespective of whether you're fumbling with the 1/48 or are a True Man of God, using the One scale, namely 1/72..   

Quote from: NARSES2 on March 14, 2024, 02:23:56 AMAs a matter of interest what were the locals reactions when the roads were shut for these training exercises' ?

I was in Sweden in 1967 (very shortly before the change from driving  on the left to driving on the right)  and I can vividly remember being stopped temporarily  on a road near Vasteras whilst a Lansen taxied from woods on one side of the road into woods on the other side. We thought it fascinating  but the locals seemed to regard it as no more unusual that stopping at a level crossing.

Many thanks indeed for the answer 

Talking about extending conscription to women, there was a piece on the news over here this morning about Denmark doing exactly that.

Quote from: NARSES2 on March 14, 2024, 09:27:37 AMMany thanks indeed for the answer 

Talking about extending conscription to women, there was a piece on the news over here this morning about Denmark doing exactly that.

Yup, the Danes also are increasing their defence spending by almost 40% for next year. The twats we have in charge here seems to think NATO will solve everything without local input. Morons..

And our 'Defence Minister' is talking about CUTTING our defence budget! 

Sorry Chris, but it had to be said.

Another thread in acute need of some fresh blood - and lo and behold! Progress!
Having accompanied the three Lansens, also the PR Draken is now decalled and ready for the final touches.

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Now, there's another backstory to be written.. 

Nice and murky!