French transport plane practices road landing on National Highway 44 in Grästorp

From the air, the country road looks minimal - but a short while later the French transport plane is down on National Highway 44 in Grästorp in Västergötland.

The Casa CN235 model plane has often been used in African countries and on islands in the Indian Ocean. Now the unit from Normandy is in place in Såtenäs.

- If airstrips near the front have been destroyed, we can instead land on country roads to evacuate casualties or transport fuel and ammunition, says pilot Nathan.

Increased interest

For the staff at Skaraborg's air fleet, the last few years have meant that more and more NATO countries want to come to Sweden to practice land landings. And every time that happens, the air flotilla practically builds a small airport along the roadway with everything from fire trucks to air traffic controllers and personnel who close the road during landings.

- The interest from the various countries has really increased, it is getting more and more. This is the second time this year, says Lieutenant Christofer, who is operationally responsible for the temporary road base.

The background to the increased interest is Russia's bombing of infrastructure in Ukraine, which has caused European defense forces to warn that Russia will likely act in the same way against other countries in the event of war.

Then alternative opportunities to land and take off are needed.

Spreads planes

- If for some reason we are exposed to threats or combat here against the main runways so that they would be blocked or unusable, we have other runways so that we can continue our air operations, says Mattias Ottis, head of Skaraborg's air fleet.

The pilot Nathan, who took part in the first French road landing in Sweden, sees more exercises on Swedish roads ahead:

- I think we will have to practice these scenarios more and more, both road landings, but also other types of flight operations in Scandinavia.