Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing
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The Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing (, Hkpflj) organizes all
Swedish Armed Forces The Swedish Armed Forces (, literally ''Defence Force'') are the Military, armed forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. It consists of four separate military branches, the Swedish Army, the Swedish Navy, the Swedish Air Force and the Home Guard (Swed ...
military helicopter operations. The unit was formed in 1998 by merging the Army, Air Force and Navy helicopter resources. The unit is located in three places in Sweden, with headquarters at Malmen Airbase in
Linköping Linköping ( , ) is a city in southern Sweden, with around 167,000 inhabitants as of 2024. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
.


History

The unit was formed on 1 January 1998. The
Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...
,
Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...
and
Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...
no longer had their own helicopters but were part of the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing as an asset for all service branches. Sweden was the first in the world to introduce this type of organisation. From the beginning, the unit was directly subordinate to the
Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces The Chief of Defence, formerly the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces (; acronym: ÖB) is the highest ranked professional military officer in the Swedish Armed Forces, and is by NATO terminology the Sweden, Swedish chief of defence, c ...
and the
Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters The Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters (, HKV) is the highest level of command in the Swedish Armed Forces. Established in 1994, its primary task is to command operations, but is also involved in areas such as military strategy, the overall devel ...
. The inauguration, which was performed by Vice Admiral Peter Nordbeck, took place on 3 February 1998 outside
Linköping Linköping ( , ) is a city in southern Sweden, with around 167,000 inhabitants as of 2024. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
. This nationwide wing, which is led from Malmen Airbase (the district of
Malmslätt Malmslätt () is a locality situated in Linköping Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 5,214 inhabitants in 2010. Malmen Airbase and the Swedish Air Force Museum The Swedish Air Force Museum () is located at Malmen Airbase in Malm ...
in Linköping) would from 1 January 1999 have four battalions: *1st, Norrland Helicopter Battalion (''Norrlands Helikopterbataljon'') had Boden as its main base, with additional locations at F 21 Luleå,
Lycksele Lycksele (; ; Ume Sami language, Ume Sami: ) is a locality and the seat of Lycksele Municipality in Västerbotten County, province of Lapland (Sweden), Lapland, Sweden with 8,513 inhabitants in 2010. History Until the 1600s there were no settled ...
, F 4 Frösön and
Sundsvall Sundsvall () is a city and the seat of Sundsvall Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden. It has a population of 58,807 as of 2020; more than 95,000 live in the municipal area. It is Sweden's 21st largest city by population. Old town i ...
. *2nd, Svea Helicopter Battalion (''Svea Helikopterbataljon'') was based at Berga in the
Stockholm archipelago The Stockholm Archipelago () is the largest archipelago in Sweden, and the second-largest archipelago in the Baltic Sea (the largest being the Archipelago Sea across the Baltic in Finland). Part of the archipelago has been designated as a Rams ...
. Additional locations are F 16 Uppsala and
Visby Visby () is an urban areas in Sweden, urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic League, ...
. *3rd, Göta Helicopter Battalion (''Göta Helikopterbataljon'') has its main base at F 17 Kallinge. The battalion also conducts extensive operations at the Säve base outside
Gothenburg Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
, as well as at
F 7 Såtenäs Skaraborg Wing (), also F 7 Såtenäs, or simply F 7, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Lidköping in south-central Sweden. History The decision to set up the air wing was made in 1936, but disagreements in choosing a lo ...
. *4th, Östgöta Helicopter Battalion (''Östgöta Helikopterbataljon'') is based at Malmen Airbase in
Linköping Linköping ( , ) is a city in southern Sweden, with around 167,000 inhabitants as of 2024. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
.
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
Håkan Neckman became the first wing commander. The wing was to be led by the staff at Malmslätt outside Linköping. It was staffed by 19 professional officers and four civilians. The basic organization included about 1,000 people - of which 640 were professional officers and 90 civilian employees. Another 1,000 people are added to the war organization, of which 155 are reserve officers. In total, the helicopter wing had just over 120 helicopters, divided into seven types. On 1 January 2003, the wing became part of the Air Force's organization. Operationally, helicopter operations were led by the Air Force Tactical Command within the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters'
Joint Forces Command The United Kingdom's Strategic Command (StratCom), previously known as Joint Forces Command (JFC), manages allocated joint capabilities from the three armed services. History Background In August 2010 the then Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, ask ...
, occupationally it is under the
Inspector of the Air Force The Inspector of the Air Force () is the commander of the Air Force of the modern-day German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr. The Inspector is responsible for the readiness of personnel and materiel in the German Air Force, in that function reports ...
in the General Training and Management Directorate (''Grundorganisationsledningen'').


Organization

The Helicopter Wing is spread across Sweden with three helicopter squadrons (as well as a stand-alone unit):


Commanding officers


Commanders

*1998–2002:
Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
Håkan Neckman *2002–2005:
Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
Mats Westin *2005–2008: Colonel Johan Svensson *2008–2009: Colonel
Micael Bydén General (Sweden), General Per Micael Bydén (born 13 June 1964) is a retired Swedish Air Force officer. Bydén served as Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 2015 to 2024. Prior to that, he served as the Chief of Air Force (Sweden), ...
*2009–2014: Colonel Magnus Westerlund *2014–2017: Colonel Peder Söderström *2017–2021: Colonel Jonas Nellsjö *2021–2025: Colonel Mats Antonson *2025–20xx: Colonel Niklas Blomberg


Deputy commanders

*2 October 2024 – present: Colonel Mats-Uno Runeson


Heraldry and traditions


Colours, standards and guidons

From the start, the Helicopter Wing presented one battalion flag, one battalion colour and one squadron colour. A wing colour was then planned but still not decided. In 2009, the wing received a colour of its own.


Description of the wing colour

On 27 May 2009, the
Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces The Chief of Defence, formerly the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces (; acronym: ÖB) is the highest ranked professional military officer in the Swedish Armed Forces, and is by NATO terminology the Sweden, Swedish chief of defence, c ...
, General
Sverker Göranson General Sverker John Olof Göranson (born 3 May 1954) is a retired Swedish Army officer. Sverkerson was commissioned as an officer in 1977. During the 1990s, Göranson embarked on an international career. He completed the Swedish National Defenc ...
, on behalf of His Majesty the King, handed over the new colour to the commander of the helicopter wing, Colonel
Micael Bydén General (Sweden), General Per Micael Bydén (born 13 June 1964) is a retired Swedish Air Force officer. Bydén served as Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 2015 to 2024. Prior to that, he served as the Chief of Air Force (Sweden), ...
. The colour of the helicopter wing symbolizes the wing's origin from army, navy and air force helicopter units. The colour took just over seven months to complete. The heraldic artist in this case is Kristina Holmgård and she who embroidered the colour is called Gertie Frid, with the help of Inger Broström and Gunnel Andersson. The colour has a blue cloth with the air force's winged propeller with a crown. Since the Helicopter Wing has been part of the Air Force since 2003, the new colour is of the same model as the Air Force's other colours, with the exception that the royal crown over the winged propeller has a red lining. In the corners, the traditions from the previous units are carried on. In the place of honor, the inner, upper corner, there is a
Pegasus Pegasus (; ) is a winged horse in Greek mythology, usually depicted as a white stallion. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. Pegasus was the brother of Chrysaor, both born from Medusa's blood w ...
that symbolizes the Helicopter Wing. In the other corners are the symbols for the Naval Aviation, Army Air Force and the Air Force's helicopter groups.


Description of the 1. hkpdiv flag

A double swallowtailed
Swedish flag The national flag of Sweden () consists of a yellow or gold Nordic cross (i.e. a horizontal cross extending to the edges, with the crossbar closer to the hoist than the fly) on a field of light blue. The Nordic cross design traditionally represe ...
. The flag was presented to the then 1st Helicopter Division (''1. helikopterdivisionen'', 1.hkpdiv/marinen) in 1976.


Description of AF 1 colour

Blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...
: "On blue cloth a slanted one-winged yellow sword. In the first corner the white reindeer at speed of the provincial badge of
Västerbotten Västerbotten (), sometimes called West Bothnia or Westrobothnia, is a province (''landskap'') in northern Sweden, located by the Gulf of Bothnia. It borders the provinces of Ångermanland, Lapland and Norrbotten. The region is famous for Väs ...
". The colour is drawn by Ingrid Lamby and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by the company Libraria. The colour was presented to the then Norrbotten Army Air Battalion (''Norrbottens arméflygbataljon'', AF 1) in Boden by His Majesty the King
Carl XVI Gustaf Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. Having reigned since 1973, he is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history. Carl Gustaf was born during the reign of his paternal great-grandfather, K ...
on 27 September 1984. It was used as battalion colour by AF 1 until 1 July 2000.


Description of AF 2 colour

Blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...
: "On blue cloth a slanted one-winged yellow sword. In the first corner the provincial badge of
Östergötland Östergötland (; English exonym: East Gothland) is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland and the Baltic Sea. In older English li ...
; a yellow griffin, armed red between four white roses". The colour is drawn by Ingrid Lamby and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by the company Libraria. The colour was presented to the then Östgöta Army Air Battalion (''Östgöta arméflygbataljon'', AF 2) at Malmen Airbase by His Majesty the King
Carl XVI Gustaf Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. Having reigned since 1973, he is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history. Carl Gustaf was born during the reign of his paternal great-grandfather, K ...
on 27 May 1988.


Coat of arms

Blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...
: "Azure, a pegasus salient or. The shield surmounting an erect sword of the last colour".


Medals

In 2005, the ''Helikopterflottiljens (Hkpflj) förtjänstmedalj'' ("Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing (Hkpflj) Medal of Merit") in gold (HkpfljGM) of the 8th size was established. The
medal ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...
is of blue moiré with narrow yellow edges and two yellow lines on each side. In 2005, the ''Helikopterflottiljens (Hkpflj) skvadronsminnesmedaljer'' ("Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing (Hkpflj) Squadron Commemorative Medals") in silver (HkpfljMSM) of the 8th size were established. The medals has different reverses. The medal ribbon is of blue moiré with narrow yellow edges and two yellow lines on each side. A squadron figure in silver is attached to the ribbon. File:AM.088390.jpg, Commemorative medal for the 1st squadron. File:AM.088402.jpg, Commemorative medal for the 2nd squadron. File:AM.088388.jpg, Commemorative medal for the 5th squadron.


Traditions

The unit carries traditions from the following units: ''Arméflygcentrum'' (AFC), Norrbotten Army Air Battalion (''Norrbottens arméflygbataljon'', AF 1), Östgöta Army Air Battalion (''Östgöta arméflygbataljon'', AF 2), ''Marinflygledningen'' (MFlygL), Norrland Helicopter Battalion (''Norrlands helikopterbataljon'', 1. hkpbat), Svea Helicopter Battalion (''Svea helikopterbataljon'', 2. hkpbat), Göta Helicopter Battalion (''Göta helikopterbataljon'', 3. hkpbat), Östgöta Helicopter Battalion (''Östgöta helikopterbataljon'', 4. hkpbat), 11th Helicopter Division (''11. helikopterdivisionen'', 11. hkpdiv), 12th Helicopter Division (''12. helikopterdivisionen'', 12. hkpdiv), 13th Helicopter Division (''13. helikopterdivisionen'', 13. hkpdiv), ''Marinflygledningen'' (MFlygfL) and the Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4). The unit preserves the memory of the following units: Swedish Army Helicopter School (''Arméns helikopterskola'', HkpS), ''Artilleriflygskolan'' (ArtFlygS), Hkpgrp KAX, FRÖ, UPP, RBY, SÅT, ÄNG,
Östgöta Wing Östgöta Wing (), also F 3 Malmslätt, or simply F 3, is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Malmen air base near Linköping in south-eastern Sweden. History In August 1912, the first pilot school in Sweden was set up a ...
(F 3) and the
Bråvalla Wing Bråvalla Wing (), also F 13 Norrköping, or simply F 13, is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Norrköping in south-eastern Sweden. History The Air Wing was established in 1943 as the fourth fighter wing, and the thi ...
(F 13).


References


Notes


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External links

* {{Swedish Air Force wings Wings of the Swedish Air Force Military units and formations established in 1998 1998 establishments in Sweden Linköping Garrison Helicopter units and formations