Sweden's New Vision

[Resurrection]

A pretty informative article... enjoy.

The continuing transformation of Sweden’s armed forces from a Cold War posture of national defence to an organisation capable of meaningful participation in international operations is to take clearer shape following national elections in mid-September, with the scope of new procurements, legacy equipment upgrades and strike aircraft cuts to be determined by the results.

Sweden’s role as the dominant player in the four-nation Nordic Battle Group is at the forefront of its planning activities, with the 2,400-strong unit to be available to lead a potential European Union peacekeeping mission for a six-month period from January 2008. This requirement is driving Stockholm – which will supply 2,000 of the group’s deployable personnel – to give serious consideration to acquiring strategic airlifters and roll-on, roll-off sealift capacity in time to support its EU commitment.

Inaugurated on 29 May, the Nordic Battle Group will also involve troops from Estonia, Finland and Norway, with Ireland also considering future participation. If called upon, the unit will be required to deploy a rapid reaction force anywhere within a 11,100km (6,000nm) radius of Brussels within 10 days: a demand that has prompted Swedish interest in acquiring two Boeing C-17 transports.

Read the rest here.

[Prins Proppmätt]

C-17s would be a nice contribution to our air force

[Nordic Fire]

I, for one, welcome our Göran Persson overlord and the C-17 transports.

[Laworkerbee]

Please buy more

Boeing's Long Beach C-17 Plant to Shut Down

Boeing Co. said today it was taking the first steps toward closing its sprawling C-17 assembly plant in Long Beach, a shutdown that is expected to be completed by the middle of 2009 unless significant new orders are placed for the giant military transport aircraft.

Closing the plant, which employs about 5,500 workers, will deprive Long Beach of its largest civilian employer and will deal an economic blow to hundreds of subcontractors in Southern California and around the nation that supply parts for the C-17. It also bring to a close almost a century of airplane manufacturing in Southern California — once a pillar of the state's economy.

Boeing broke the news this morning to workers in Long Beach and began notifying suppliers to stop producing parts for the C-17.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-0...home-headlines