So, the Viggen gave the SwAF two big things in the 70s (ours is a 90s model).
The first was a fast and accurate defensive punch.
The second is a further augmentation and improvement of their dispersed aviation assets.
The first stage of Sweden entering into a conflict would be total road base dispersal; any airframes at major airfields would probably be scrambled to get out of dodge and to a road base where it’d be hidden. We all love these scenes, after all:
The value here isn’t exactly subtle; the doctrine of basing Viggens in such a manner would’ve made Soviets conducting OCAs a very frustrating experience.
From what I can glib, Troll can obviously correct me where I’m wrong, but the first job and most important job falls intelligence and recce. For maritime threats, that’ll be your shore based radar primarily. For ground targets? This is where a Viggen steps in, but not the AJ/AJS. The SF-37:
The pointy nosed Viggen signifies that it holds a camera package instead of the air to ground or air to air radar of the AJ/AJS and JA variants, respectively. It’s going to utilize the Viggen’s outstanding low altitude performance coupled with ECM to take as many pictures of the invading force as possible. So, the wait for film to develop etc. is still there. The pictures it took were REAL clear, too. Saab spared no expense there.
@ 2:46, you see some examples from training exercises.
As soon as that intel is processed and compared to maps, a more complete picture is established. At that point, you’re going to see ammunition stores, tank depots, fuel dumps, and other critical war fighting infrastructure get targeted for immediate strike. You’re looking to leave those Soviet troops without ammunition, food, or fuel. Basically, use the Viggen in the same way the Ukis used the HIMARS.
It’s my belief the Swedes would’ve been extremely aggressive and brazen facing such a threat. The reason being is that the Viggen’s bread and butter are low tech weapons; dumb bombs and rockets. But, the Viggen’s own onboard systems allowed their crews to employ them with remarkable accuracy. These will be weapons easily acquired and produced owing to that simplicity, so they’d probably have plenty to lob at invaders.
Attacking a Soviet fleet would have called for massed volleys of the Rb-04E in order to cripple initial vanguards. The name of the game was to overwhelming their defenses. With only a few vessels crippled, a fleet could be forced into a defensive posture to protect the crew recovery efforts and affording the Viggens time to land, rearm, and head right back out.
Simple, effective arms made accurate by a good aircraft that is being landed on roads to both hide them from prowling Soviet OCA, and also keep them closer to the frontline means that the Swedes would have enjoyed a pretty incredible tempo with the ground and maritime attack Viggens.
So, in short?
The Viggen’s prey are any rear echelon forces, mustering areas, and ships. You can expect to operate from roadbases, landing back there after a first strike to receive a re-arm, then taking off to go do it all over again ASAP.
I don’t have Kola, but I do know that the Finns also exercise road base dispersal of its own air assets, they just didn’t craft perfection for it like the Swedes did with the Viggen.
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