Nuclear-armed planes drop bombs in Norrbotten

Luleå

Nuclear-armed planes bomb Sweden – signal to Putin

Niclas Vent

Updated 20.43 | Published 17.53

LULEÅ. France has a Trump-shaped hole in Europe's defense to fill, and has identified an ideal radar partner:

Sweden.

Aftonbladet is involved in a unique operation, where French nuclear-capable fighter planes drop live bombs over Norrbotten.

Quick version

• France and Sweden are strengthening their defense partnership through joint exercises.
• There is a mutual interest in cooperating in the defense industry, with opportunities for cross-purchase of military equipment such as the Global Eye radar reconnaissance aircraft.
• The cooperation between Sweden and France is emphasized as important in light of the changes in global geopolitics, primarily related to the US's reduced involvement in Europe.

They take off from four French bases in the morning light, and swoop down over Norrbotten like steel-gray hawks. Six twin-engine fighter jets, sharp weapons under their wings, followed by three heavy transport planes.

The planning has been quick. That was the intention.

Nine planes, around 200 men, a very light footprint and minimal preparations.

From one end of Europe to the other in a few hours, then the sharp French bombs fall over the Lomben shooting range in Kalix, guided to their targets by Swedish special forces.

The Rafale is a French-made fighter and attack aircraft. Photo: Jesper Sundström/Swedish Armed Forces

This is the third time this year that the French have come to Luleå.

It is a signal to the Kremlin that cannot be misunderstood:

Don't even think about it.

– We know that this demonstrates to the big neighbor what capabilities Sweden and France can field together, says French Ambassador Thierry Carlier.

Want to be seen

Aftonbladet has been given a ride to Luleå with the French Air Force's enormous A400M transport aircraft to be able to follow the exercise up close.

The large French transport aircraft A400M lands at Kallax Airport in Luleå. Photo: Joakim Vidgren/Swedish Armed Forces

The French are keen for the visit to Sweden to be seen.

– We are showing that the French Air Force can be quickly deployed in northern Europe, with a strong and significant force, says French General Patrice Hugret.

– It is a good sign for our partnership. We are both very concerned about what is happening on the eastern flank, and it is clear that France is very focused on this part of the continent.

 

Patrice Hugret, French general, greets a Swedish military man at the F 21 air flotilla in Luleå. Photo: Niclas Vent

One by one, the Swedish and French planes that are practicing during the day sweep down onto the windswept runway of the F 21 air flotilla, and park side by side.

Five of the six French fighter jets participating are two-seater Rafale Bs that can carry nuclear weapons. However, they will not do so during this exercise.

Being able to quickly move fighter jets like these and get them operationally ready in a new location can be a decisive factor in a war.

– For us, it is a great opportunity to practice what we need to do even in a higher conflict scale, says the flotilla commander at F 21, Colonel Peter Greberg.

– We get to fly with and against the French and show that we are interoperable, without really having prepared ourselves very much. It also means that we get to see that it works to bring here a fairly large contingent, have them based here for a week and make sure that they get what they need in terms of ammunition, fuel and food.

 

Moving planes quickly to new locations is part of the NATO concept ACE, “Agile Combat Employment”. This is one of the things the French are practicing in Luleå. The squadron commander at F 21, Colonel Peter Greberg, believes that Sweden, with its tradition of spreading planes across many bases, has something to teach in this regard. “I think we should take a little more space there as Swedes, and show that we are good at this,” he says. Photo: Jesper Sundström/The Swedish Armed Forces

Thierry Carlier has only been France's ambassador to Sweden for a few weeks – and those weeks also happen to be his entire diplomatic career.

He is actually a military man, a five-star engineer general, the highest rank attainable, and was until recently second-in-command at the DGA, the French equivalent of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.

– That is why I was appointed to Sweden. When you see what is at stake between our countries, how far our partnership already extends, and the current geopolitical situation, I believe that my background can provide additional value to deepening our partnership.

His appointment is a signal of an obvious French ambition:

To tie the defense industries of Sweden and France closer together.

The move is logical.

Thierry Carlier, France’s ambassador, assures that France is very committed to the defense of northeastern Europe. “Being able to meet a high-intensity conflict is what drives our military needs, and also how we develop our future forces,” he says. Photo: Niclas Vent

Sweden has a tradition from the days of neutrality of building a lot of military equipment on its own. For France, even as a long-time NATO ally, it has always been important to be able to cope on its own, and the country still has a large state-owned defense industry.

It is no coincidence that in Europe only France and Sweden build their own fighter jets.

Such capabilities are important now, when fear is spreading about how safe American arms purchases really are.

– We are the only two countries in Europe that have reached the same level of autonomy in our defense industry, says Thierry Carlier.

– We have already discovered ways in which we complement each other, and it is better to exploit that than to compete against each other. Especially in the current world, when we have to build up our defense and our industrial capabilities, it is better for us to cooperate.

The French effort in Luleå is part of a mini-tour that the French call the “Pegase Grand Tour”. From Sweden, the plan will continue to Poland and Croatia. Photo: Jesper Sundström/Swedish Armed Forces

What France wants is cross-buying. We buy something from them, they buy something from us.

– If one country already has a product that matches 90 percent of what the other needs, why develop something new? says Thierry Carlier.

For example, France is interested in buying the Swedish radar reconnaissance aircraft Global Eye from Saab.

However, it is a controversial issue in France.

The head of French Dassault is angry that Global Eye is built around a basic aircraft from Canadian Bombardier, and believes that his own Falcon 10X would be a better alternative.

– The discussions are of course still ongoing, but it is an example of an area where Sweden has a fantastic capability, which matches our military needs, says Thierry Carlier.

The French pilot with the call sign “Loic” shows the Rafale aircraft he flew in from France. Photo: Niclas Vent

France is, together with the UK, Europe's military heavyweight.

A role that has become even more important, as the US commitment threatens to decrease.

– The world is changing very, very quickly. Now that we see what is happening with the tariff war, and all the measures from Donald Trump, even a week can feel like an eternity, says Thierry Carlier.

– We have seen within NATO that we may be facing a reduction in US commitment. That is why it is important that we utilize the fantastic capabilities we have in our two countries, to build a strong European pillar within NATO.

In that context, the bond between Sweden and France is more important than ever, he believes.

– Sweden and France have a lot in common. We also share the same values, the values ​​that are really being challenged in the world right now.

FACTS

The French aircraft types in Luleå

Rafale

Twin-engine fighter aircraft, which can carry all types of missions, both hunting and attack as well as reconnaissance. France came to Sweden with five two-seater Rafale B, which can carry nuclear weapons, and one single-seater Rafale C. Made by the French Dassault.

MRTT, ”Phénix”

Very similar to a regular passenger aircraft, and can fly with regular aircraft seats in the cabin. However, these can be removed, and the plane can then instead carry stretchers or equipment in a large free space. The plane can also carry enormous amounts of aviation fuel in the wings or in tanks under the cabin, which can be used to refuel other aircraft. With the help of MRTT, the shorter-range Rafale planes can fly long distances without having to land. Made by Airbus.

A400M, ”Atlas”

A large transport aircraft. It serves the same function as the Swedish Air Force's Hercules aircraft, but is larger and can carry heavier weight. It can also refuel other aircraft. Manufactured by Airbus.

The French planes took off for Sweden from bases in Mont-de-Marsan, Istres, Saint-Dizier and Orléans on 22 April.