NATO showcases aerial power over Stockholm as Sweden eyes membership
Let us recall that the president of Hungary accepted Sweden's application to join NATO recently. The official admission of the northern country into the alliance is expected to occur in the coming days, and the ongoing Nordic Response exercise in Sweden provided a perfect opportunity for NATO to show the inhabitants the power of just some of the machines that the members of the North Atlantic Treaty possess.
Low flight of NATO equipment over Sweden
What specific machines flew at a height of several hundred metres over Stockholm? Among numerous recordings shared on the platform X, one can primarily see two JAS 39 Gripen fighters. Along with them were the seldom seen B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bombers.
The smallest of the machines visible over Stockholm are a pair of Gripens. These multi-role fighters, produced by SAAB since the late '80s, are distinct for their canard configuration and delta wing layout. This design not only allows it to reach high cruising speeds of up to 2 Ma (approximately 2130 km/h) but also enables taking off and landing on short runways. The Gripen's take-off run is around 400 metres, and its landing distance is just about 500 metres.
Regarding the armament of this Swedish creation, primarily worth mentioning are the AIM-9 Sidewinder or IRIS-T missiles mounted on external stations (up to six rockets) and four AIM-120 AMRAAM, MICA, or Meteor, four GBU-12 bombs or AGM-65 Maverick, two RBS-15F missiles, and eight Mk 82 bombs.
Along with the fighters, recordings from Sweden showcased the long-range bomber B-1B Lancer, considered one of the loudest aircraft in the world, generating noise at the level of 140 dB. Additionally, Lancers feature variable geometry wings, aimed at reducing air resistance, thereby increasing maximum speed and range. The B-1B can accelerate up to 1.25 Ma and can operate at an altitude of up to 18,000 metres. Its maximum range is, however, around 12,000 miles.
The B-52 Stratofortress bomber, also seen over Stockholm alongside Gripens and Lancer, is truly an iconic aircraft. Its production began in 1952, and as journalist Łukasz Michalik from Virtual Poland earlier explained, it is a model that will continue to be operated for almost a century after modernisation. It is powered by eight Pratt & Whitney TG33-P-3/103 turbofan engines, which propel the B-52 to speeds of over 999 km/h.
On board this American bomber, as much as 31,000 kg of ammunition can be found. This means that the Stratofortress is almost unrivaled in terms of combat capabilities and moreover – as Karolina Modzelewska pointed out – it is cost-effective and reliable.
