Southern Air Command (Sweden)

The Southern Air Command was an air command within the Swedish Air Force with an area of responsibility for air surveillance within the Southern Military District (Milo S). The history of the Southern Air Command goes back to 1957, when the concept of air defence sector was established, which were added by assigning responsibility to ten wings over eleven air defence sectors. In 1981, the number of sectors was reduced to four where Scania Wing (F 10) became a large sector wing, with the designation F 10/Se S, and was responsible for air surveillance over South Sweden.[3]

In connection with the Defence Act of 1992, it was decided that the four air defence sector units would be disbanded, and instead reorganized into regular wings. In its place, responsibility for the air defence sectors would be assigned to three newly established air commands.[4]

On 1 July 1993, three new regional command organizations were formed – for northern, central, and southern Sweden. With it, the air defence sector staff at F 4 was disbanded and staff at F 21 was reorganized and formed the embryo of the Southern Air Command. Initially, the staff was integrated into F 10, which was designated F 10/FKS. On 1 July 1994, the staff was separated from the wing, and at the same time became a cadre-organized war unit within the Southern Military District (Milo S).[4][5]

In the years 1993–1995, tasks from First Air Group (E 1) were also transferred to the three air commands. This was because the Defence Act of 1992 also included that First Air Group was to be disbanded.[4]

Prior to the Defence Act of 2000, the Swedish government proposed in its bill for the Riksdag that the tactical level should be reduced by disbanding division and military district staffs as well as naval commands and air commands. This was to design an Army Command, Navy Command and Air Force Command which would be co-located with the Joint Operations Command (Operationsledningen, OPL). The proposal meant that all territorial staffs would be disbanded, which meant, among other things, that the three air command staffs were disbanded on 30 June 2000.[6]

In its place, the Air Force Command was formed on 1 July 2000, which geographically encompassed the three former air commands.[6]

From 1 July 1994, the following combat and ground aviation units were part of the Southern Air Command.

• Flygvapnets Halmstadsskolor
  • Flygvapnets basbefälsskola
  • Flygvapnets sambands- och stabstjänstskola
  • Swedish Air Force Technical School (Flygvapnets tekniska skola)
  • Swedish Air Force Officer's School (Flygvapnets officershögskola)
  • Swedish Air Force Ground Telecommunications School (Flygvapnets markteletekniska skola)
• Swedish Air Force Flying School
  • 51st Attack Division (Sk 60)
  • 52nd Attack Division (Sk 60)
  • 53rd Attack Division (Sk 60)
  • 55th Attack Division (Sk 60)

• Skaraborg Wing
  • 71st Attack Division (AJ 37 Viggen, JAS 39 Gripen)
  • 72nd Attack Division (AJ 37 Viggen, JAS 39 Gripen)
• Scania Wing
  • 101st Reconnaissance Division (AJS 37, AJSF 37, AJSH 37 Viggen)
  • 102nd Fighter Division (J 35J Draken)
  • 103rd Fighter Division (J 35J Draken)
• Blekinge Wing
  • 171st Fighter Division (JA 37 Viggen)
  • 172nd Fighter Division (JA 37 Viggen)
  • 173rd Helicopter Division (JA 37 Viggen)

Fighter aircraft

• 1994–2000: JA 37

Attack aircraft

• 1994–1995: AJ 37

Trainer aircraft

• 1994–1997: Sk 35C
• 1994–2000: Sk 60

Multirole combat aircraft

• 1995–2000: AJS 37
• 1995–2000: AJSF 37
• 1995–2000: AJSH 37
• 1996–2000: JAS 39

The commander was subordinate to the military commander of Southern Military District.[9]

• Central Air Command
• Northern Air Command