Photo: Lars-Åke Siggelin/Försvarsmakten
Posted on 04/07/2011 6:34:22 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
US fuel stops Gripen Libya mission
The Swedish JAS Gripen aircraft deployed in Sicily as part of NATO's Libya mission remained grounded on Thursday as the fuel available is suitable only for US navy aircraft.
The eight fighter jets are located in the US part of the Sigonella airbase on Sicily and the only fuel available it that which is used for US navy aircraft.
The Gripen were due to participate in their first mission over Libya on Thursday but this has now been delayed and test flights have been postponed.
According to the outline plan, the eight aircraft were all due to monitor the UN no-fly zone over the civil-war torn country from Thursday but on arrival at the base they discovered that no fuel was available.
The Sigonella base is designed as a naval air force base, lieutenant colonal Mats Brindsjö, head of the Swedish Air Operation Center, said.
"And US navy aircraft use somewhat different fuel to that which we use in our planes," he told the TT news agency.
The US fuel variety is known as JP5 while the Gripen normally fly using a civil fuel known as Jet A1.
"Certain additives and some equipment are needed to change JP5 to Jet A1 in a controlled manner. This equipment is not as yet in place down there and in the time being we are trying to buy the fuel from a place off the base."
"This really should have been investigated as soon as we arrived, but we didn't have time with all the other details," Mats Brindsjö said, adding that he expects the Gripen aircraft to be in the air on Friday.
The Swedish aircraft will undergo a test flight in order to familiarize themselves with the airspace before NATO authorities are informed that the Gripen stand at the ready.
Sweden is not a member of NATO, although it has been in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme since 1994 and has contributed some 500 troops to the alliance's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) force in Afghanistan.
Sweden also took part in operations in Kosovo.
Nevertheless Sweden's air force has not been involved in action since it took part in a UN-mandated operation in the then Belgian Congo from 1961-63.
The Libyan operation will be the first combat tour for the JAS Gripen 39, produced by the Swedish defence group Saab.
Sweden's Nordic neighbours Denmark and Norway are already taking part in Libyan air operations.
Photo: Lars-Åke Siggelin/Försvarsmakten
The logistical brilliance of NATO.... reams and reams of STANAG specs but no gas.
There’s no fuel.....like an old fuel.................
That’s war by committee for you. When you need air support right now the swift movers are only one wrong fuel blend away.
Civilian fuel (Jet A1) is not available anywhere in Sicily?
Really? All civilian traffic has come to a halt? Something is missing....
Knocking and pinging at 30K ft isn’t good.
Weee, Haa! Keep your heads down rebels, we're just a LITTLE rusty!
Seems somebody screwed up.
To be fair the Swedes are not part of NATO are they? In fact I was very surprised to see them taking part in this operation.
Oh it's here, but the Italian / Sicilian bureaucracy and business world moves very slowly.
At least the Danes and the Norwegians fly F-16s!
“To be fair the Swedes are not part of NATO are they? In fact I was very surprised to see them taking part in this operation. “
I am not suprised. They have hardware they want to sell. What better place to showcase it than in actual bombing runs?
Almost seems like this “war” is meant for NATO to show off its weaponry to India. Do you want the Eurofighter, the Gripen or the F18?
Point taken.
It’s not like they ever really planned on fighting anyone.
The Russians take a lot of flack and deservedly so, but in some areas they are pretty clever. Their aircraft and tanks were designed to use the fuels they would capture if they attacked NATO. They built 61mm and 82mm mortars to that they could use our ammunition while we could not use theirs. Apparently the Swedes aren’t as smart as the Russians.
The U.S. fuel probably has too much ethanol.
....complete with bare breasted female sailors....
Give the muzzies something to get excited about...
pic required here for verification...
Having been stationed at Sigonella, believe me, all it would take is a quick trip to the Navy Exchange to pick up a few bottles of Crown Royal/Jack Black & several cartons of cigarettes...and you would have the fuel...
Probably recycled french fry grease.
Are there no fuel trucks that can come from the nearest civilian airport? Doesn’t Sweden have air refueling capability? What a cluster flop.
Actually the Swedes have always designed their Air Force to be able to disperse to use highways, etc. as runways, (In case the Russians wiped out their air bases) and their use of civilian fuel is likely part of the plan.
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