Bas 60

Bas 60 (Flygbassystem 60, Air Base System 60) was an air base
system developed and used by the Swedish Air Force during the
Cold War. The system was based around defensive force dispersal
of aircraft and its supporting ground operations across many
krigsflygbaser (wartime air bases) in case of war, primarily as a
protective measure against nuclear weapons. The purpose of the
system was to make it complicated for an opponent to destroy the
Swedish Air Force on the ground and thus ensure endurance for
the air force in a conflict scenario. The plan was to disperse the air An AJ 37 Viggen being serviced in
units so one krigsflygbas would house one squadron (8-12 aircraft). bakom (rear flight line position) at a
This dispersion principle also applied to the individual wartime wartime air base in Sweden
bases themselves, meaning that the various functions of an air base
were spread over a large area in and around the base.

The system originated from an air force inquiry in 1954 and was formally implemented in the 1958 defence
plan. The original plan called for 70 wartime air bases to be built, with 46 of them to be equipped for
continuous usage. The number of bases was however reduced with every revision of the plan and about 40
bases ended up being completed.

During peace time the air squadrons were stationed at their respective air wing and deployment to the
wartime air bases would only occur when the threat level increased. But many of the air wings also
doubled as wartime air bases. The wartime air bases were only manned by a smaller bastropp (base troop)
during peace time and the full base battalion would only be manned with a mobilization (except during
certain exercises). This was because the majority of the units were made up by conscripts. The base system
was therefore never fully active during the time it existed, like the rest of the Swedish Armed Forces during
the Cold War.

A wartime air base in the Bas 60 system functioned as ordinarie bas (regular base), shortened as "O-bas"
(R-base), for one or more type of aircraft; fighter, attack or reconnaissance. A regular base had the
personnel and resources needed for maintaining and repairing the type of aircraft assigned to that base.
Some bases also doubled as temporär bas (temporary base), shortened as "T-bas" (T-base), for one or more
aircraft types. A temporary base only had capacity to refuel and rearm the type of aircraft it acted as
temporary base for. All regular bases acted as temporary bases for fighter aircraft.

Road runways were also built to complement the wartime bases, acting as a backup bases. Civilian airports
could also be used as a backup alternative.

The system was further developed into Bas 90 during the 1970s and 1980s.

Contents
Base layout
Main runway
Framom - Fore flight line position
Bakom - Rear flight line position
 Uom - Staging area
Road runways and reserve bases
Operations
Kommandocentral - Command centre
TLF - The traffic leader at the field
Stabsplats - Command post
Basbataljon 60 - Base battalion
Further development
Today
List of Bas 60 air bases
List of Bas 60 road runways
References
Books
Web

Base layout

Main runway

The main runway was a typical runway at a length of 2,000–2,300

metres (6,600–7,500 ft) and 30–40 metres (98–131 ft) wide, with a
taxiway running parallel to it. Visual aids for pilots such as runway
lights were installed. At the ends of the runway there were raisable
and lowerable nets for capturing aircraft that were not able to take
off or land properly.
Two JA 37 Viggen on stand-by at
framom (fore flight line position) at a
wartime air base
Framom - Fore flight line position

Främre klargöringsområde (framom), fore flight line position, was

the flight line position (apron) by the main runway, and was where fighter aircraft were to be prepared for
missions and be on standby. A base usually had two framom positions, one located at each end of the main
runway. One framom position had space for four aircraft. Attack and reconnaissance aircraft in need of
complementary refueling could also be refueled at framom. Fighter aircraft on standby at framom were
directly connected to the bases communication net so the pilots could receive orders directly and take off
immediately after receiving the order. When no aircraft were at framom, the groundcrew would evacuate
the area as a safety measure and return when new aircraft came in.

Bakom - Rear flight line position

Bakre klargöringsområde (bakom), rear flight line position, was the flight line position for attack and
reconnaissance aircraft. Bakom was located 2–3 kilometres (1.2–1.9 mi) away from the main airfield and
only bases that were regular bases for attack and reconnaissance aircraft had a bakom position. In case a
base was a regular base for both attack and reconnaissance there were two separate bakom positions,
referred to as bakom-attack (rear-attack) and bakom-spaning (rear-reconnaissance). A bakom position had
10-15 individual aircraft spaces (hardstands) with a distance of 50
metres (160 ft) between each space, and aircraft currently in bakom
were to be separated as much as possible within the available
aircraft spaces. This was to reduce the risk of having all aircraft
destroyed in a single attack. The aircraft spaces could also be
concealed with camouflage nets. Bakom was connected to the main
airfield via a taxiway that in many cases was public road integrated
into the base infrastructure, and aircraft could either taxi on their
own between the sections of the base or be towed by a vehicle. Field hangar at the uom site for
former air base Hässlö

Uom - Staging area

Uppställningsområdet (uom), staging area, was where aircraft undergoing long-term maintenance, such as
repairs, or not being in immediate use were kept. Uom was located 5–10 kilometres (3.1–6.2  mi) away
from the main airfield. A uom had field hangars for maintenance work and a site for engine swapping and
testing. Just like at bakom the aircraft spaces at uom could be concealed with camouflage nets and was
connected with the rest of the base via a taxiway that often was public road. Most of the aircraft
groundcrew and their equipment would be positioned at uom.

Road runways and reserve bases

To complement the ordinary Bas 60 bases, reservvägbaser (road
runways) were built to act as a backup alternative. Selected sections
of public roads that were suitable for the purpose were widened to
give enough space for aircraft to take-off and land. The typical
dimensions for a reservvägbas (road runway) was 1,500–2,000
metres (4,900–6,600  ft) in length and 12 metres (39  ft) in width.
One or two runway aprons were built near each end of the runway.
About 30 road runways were built, primarily in the southern and
eastern parts of Sweden. Usage of the road runways were limited A Bas 60 road runway with a small
by adverse light and weather conditions, which is why they were runway apron visible on the right
primarily considered a backup alternative. Utilizing a road runway
required relocating units and resources from an ordinary base, and
certain field works around the runway were often necessary before it could be used.

Selected civilian airports were later added as additional reserve bases.

Operations

Kommandocentral - Command centre

The air traffic operations on a base were led and organized from a
kommandocentral (command centre), abbreviated as KC, located in
an underground bunker a few kilometers away from the airfield. A
KC was manned by 6-8 people, including the duty officer.

TLF - The traffic leader at the field TLF-cart

Trafikledaren vid fältet (TLF), the traffic leader at the field, was stationed at the main runway and assisted
the air traffic operations. In case kommandocentralen was unavailable or stopped functioning the TLF
could take over control of air traffic operations. The TLF operated from a special cart that was equipped
with base radio, air traffic radio, telephone and controls for runway functions such as lighting.

Stabsplats - Command post

The overarching and long term operations on base were led and organized from a stabsplats (command
post). This command post would be located in one or more buildings (often a school) in a nearby town or
city. The stabsplats also acted as the camp for many of the base units, including the medical, meteorology
and security units.

Basbataljon 60 - Base battalion

One base was operated by a basbataljon 60 (base battalion type 60), with the battalion chief in charge of
the overall operations on the base. A fully mobilized battalion consisted of 1200-1500 men, but in peace
time a base was normally operated by 2-3 technical officers and 10-15 conscripted flight mechanics. During
larger exercises all or part of the full base battalion would be called in.

One base battalion consisted of the following units:

Stabskompani (command company): command and administration of the base.

Stationskompani (station company): aircraft groundcrew and maintenance.
Intendenturkompani (commissariat company): supply and logistics.
Flygfältsarbetskompani (field works company): base infrastructure repair and
maintenance.
Skyddskompani (security company): base security, removal of unexploded ordnance and
fire fighting.
Sjukvårdspluton (medical platoon): first aid and medical care.

The defense of the base could also be reinforced with infantry and anti-air units from the Swedish Army.

Further development
In the 1970s and 1980s the Bas 60 system was developed into Bas 90 to accommodate new needs and
threats.

Today
With the end of the cold war the Bas 60 and Bas 90 system was scrapped, and many of the wartime air
bases have been demilitarized and sold to civilian owners.

List of Bas 60 air bases

 Kiruna

Jokkmokk

Vidsel Heden

Luleå
Piteå

Fällfors
Gunnarn

Åmsele Skellefteå

Kubbe

Frösön
Örnsköldsvik

Sättna

Färila

Söderhamn

Rommehed
Tierp
Gimo
Uppsala

Hässlö
Kjula Barkaby

Strängnäs Tullinge
Moholm

Karlsborg Björkvik Nyköping

Råda Bråvalla Kungsängen
Såtenäs SAAB
Lidköping
Malmen
Hasslösa
Säve
Visby
Hultsfred
Hagshult

Byholma Ålem
Kosta
Halmstad Uråsa Kalmar
Eneryda
 Ängelholm
KnislingeRonneby
Ljungbyhed
Everöd
Sjöbo
Sturup
Tågra

Air bases in the Bas 60 system (excluding civilian airports in reserve).

= Bas 60
= Not Bas 60, but actively used by the air force during the time period
 Facility Code Code Year(s)
Airfield Other
number 1 2 built
Anl 101 Skellefteå – – ? Civilian airport
Anl 102 Gunnarn fält 28 60 1968 Built to Bas 90 in 1987.
Anl 103 Hagshult C 18 29 1961 Built to Bas 90 in 1983. Still in use.
Anl 105 Moholm fält 8 36 ?
Anl 107 Everöd fält 4 20 ?
Anl 109 Tierp fält 14 48 1965
Anl 111 Örnsköldsvik – – ? Civilian airport
Anl 113 Heden fält 32 61 1956, 1959
Anl 115 Råda fält 20 37 1971 Built to Bas 90 in 1990-91.
Anl 118 Hultsfred fält 37 28 1969
Anl 119 Fällfors fält 40 66 1958, 1961 Built to Bas 90 in 1983.
Anl 121 Sjöbo fält 1 23 1960, 1968
Anl 126 Hasslösa fält 6 35 1958
Anl 128 SAAB – – 1964, 1967
Anl 130 Uråsa fält 88 27 1964
Anl 131 Lidköping fält 21 34 1958
Anl 136 Rommehed fält 15 44 1960 Built to Bas 90 in 1990.
Anl 138 Eneryda fält 89 30 1969 Main runway on public road.
Anl 142 Kungsängen C4 41 1963, 1966 Civilian airport
Anl 143 Kjula fält 56 46 1962 Built to Bas 90 in 1987.
Anl 147 Visby C 25 43 1968 Built to Bas 90 in 1992.
Anl 157 Kiruna – – 1971 Civilian airport
Built to Bas 90 in 1989. Today Vidsel Test
Anl 160 Vidsel fält 42 62 1965
Range.
Anl 161 Tågra fält 81 – 1965 Main runway on public road.
Anl 163 Sättna fält 45 58 1963
Anl 166 Kosta fält 87 31 1963
Anl 170 Kubbe fält 44 57 ? Built to Bas 90 in 1990.
Anl 171 Åmsele fält 41 67 1960 Built to Bas 90 in 1985.
Anl 172 Knislinge fält 84 25 1963
Anl 173 Gimo fält 54 49 1960
Anl 175 Strängnäs fält 57 50 1963
Anl 176 Björkvik fält 58 42 1967-68
Anl 177 Byholma fält 85 26 1961 Built to Bas 90 in 1989.
Anl 178 Ålem fält 83 – 1968 Main runway on public road.
Anl 181 Färila fält 46 59 1967 Built to Bas 90 in 1991.
Anl 185 Piteå fält 48 68 1970
 Anl 186 Sturup – – 1972 Civilian airport
Anl 189 Jokkmokk fält 49 69 1970-71 Built to Bas 90 in 1988. Still in use.
Anl 301 Hässlö F1 01 1976 F 1 Hässlö. Partially built to Bas 90 in 1991.
F 3 Malmslätt. Partially built to Bas 90 in
Anl 303 Malmen F3 03 1966
1992.
Anl 304 Frösön F4 04 1962 F 4 Frösön. Built to Bas 90 in 1991.
F 5 Ljungbyhed. Partially built to Bas 90 in
Anl 305 Ljungbyhed F5 05 ?
1985.
Anl 306 Karlsborg F6 06 ? F 6 Karlsborg
Anl 307 Såtenäs F7 07 ? F 7 Såtenäs. Built to Bas 90 in 1990-91.
Anl 308 Barkaby F8 08 ? F 8 Barkarby
Anl 310 Ängelholm F 10 10 1970 F 10 Ängelholm
Anl 311 Nyköping F 11 11 1969 F 11 Nyköping
Anl 312 Kalmar F 12 12 1970 F 12 Kalmar
F 13 Norrköping. Partially built to Bas 90 in
Anl 313 Bråvalla F 13 13 1977
1981.
F 15 Söderhamn. Partially built to Bas 90 in
Anl 315 Söderhamn F 15 15 1975
1978.
Anl 316 Uppsala F 16 16 1970 F 16 Uppsala. Partially built to Bas 90.
Anl 317 Ronneby F 17 17 1961 F 17 Kallinge.

List of Bas 60 road runways

The Bas 60 road runways are not to be confused with the short runways in the Bas 90 system, which in
many cases also were built on public road. The Bas 90 short runways belonged to a larger air base and
were therefore not counted as individual bases, unlike the Bas 60 road runways.
 Jokkmokk

Vidsel

Långträsk

Finnträsk

Bjurholm

Överhörnäs

Jämtkrogen

Mokorset Norrala

Älvkarleby
Skärplinge
Gysinge
Gimo
Björklinge
Heby Åland
Tillinge

Klockrike
Hjo

Bro
Follingbo

Lammhult
Falkenberg Tokebo
Hovmantorp
Målerås
 Hallabro
Jämjö

Revinge

Road runways in the Bas 60 system. Not to be confused with the short runways in
the Bas 90 system, which in many cases also were built on public road.

Airfield Designation Year(s) built Other

Revinge S17 1967
Jämjö S71 1965-66
Hallabro – 1966
Hovmantorp S46 1966
Tokebo S11 1966 Used for training
Målerås – –
Lammhult – 1966
Falkenberg S21 1964-65
Follingbo – 1970
Bro B0 1964
Hjo – 1967
Klockrike – 1964
Tillinge B32 1965
Heby – 1964-65 Used for training
Åland S97 1964-65
Björklinge – 1966
Gimo S95 1964
Gysinge S41 1964
Skärplinge – 1966
Älvkarleby S81 1966
Mokorset R8 1964-65
Norrala – 1965
Jämtkrogen – 1968
Överhörnäs R19 1964
Bjurholm – 1966
Finnträsk S65 1965
Långträsk – 1966 Used for training
Vidsel R91 1967
Jokkmokk – –
References

Books
Andersson, Lennart, ed. (2008). Svenska flygbaser. Flyghistorisk revy ; [Specialnr
2008]Publikation / Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 13 (in Swedish).
Stockholm: Svensk flyghistorisk förening (SFF). ISSN 0345-3413 (https://www.worldcat.org/i
ssn/0345-3413). SELIBR 11255837 (https://libris.kb.se/bib/11255837).
Andersson, Lennart (2010). ÖB:s klubba: flygvapnets attackeskader under kalla kriget.
Publikation / Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 24 (in Swedish). Stockholm:
Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek. ISBN 9789185789740. SELIBR 11958220 (https://libris.k
b.se/bib/11958220).
Andersson, Lennart, ed. (2016). Svenskt flyg under kalla kriget (in Swedish). Stockholm:
Medström. ISBN 9789173291347. SELIBR 18615728 (https://libris.kb.se/bib/18615728).

Web
Rystedt, Jörgen (2005-10-01). "Flygbassystem 60" (http://www.fht.nu/Dokument/Flygvapnet/f
lyg_publ_dok_flygbassystemet_bas_60.pdf) (PDF) (in Swedish). Försvarets Historiska
Telesamlingar. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
Törnell, Bernt (January 2007). "Svenska militära flygbaser" (https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/s
iteassets/5-information-och-fakta/historia/vagbaserna/fortv-2007-1.pdf) (PDF) (in Swedish).
Tomelilla: Swedish Fortifications Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
Andersson, Lennart (November 2006). "Svenska reservvägbaser" (https://www.forsvarsmakt
en.se/siteassets/5-information-och-fakta/historia/vagbaserna/fortv_rapport_2006.1.pdf)
(PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Swedish Fortifications Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

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