Sweden bids farewell to the Saab Sk60

In June 2024, the Flygvapnet (SwedAF, Swedish Air Force) will bid farewell to the Saab Sk60 (Saab 105) after more than 60 years of service. The Skolflygplan 60 (Sk60) high-wing twinjet trainer officially made its first flight on 29 June 1963.

The jet trainer, currently operated by the Flygskolan (FlygS) at Linköping/Malmen, will be officially decommissioned during a ceremony on Tuesday, 18 June. The final group of students is set to graduate in the same month. Overall, the Swedish Air Force operated 150 Saab Sk60 aircraft in various configurations.

In April 2020, Scramble Magazine first reported on the new structure for jet pilot training. The Sk60 served both Grundläggande Flygutbildning (GFU, Basic Flying Training) and Grundläggande Taktisk Utbildning (GTU, Basic Tactical Training). The new training framework will introduce a propeller-driven aircraft for GFU (Basic Flying Training).

Initially considering the interim use of Saab 39 Gripen C and Gripen D models for the advanced instruction phase, the Swedish Air Force altered its plans. In December 2023, an agreement was signed with the Aeronautica Militare (AMI, Italian Air Force) to train fighter pilots in Italy, commencing in early 2024 and continuing for up to 10 years. Conducted by the AMI with support from Leonardo, the training will be held at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) at Decimomannu air base (Sardinia, Italy).

On 5 May 2021, the Försvarets materielverk (FMV, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) officially declared the Grob G120TP as the new basic training aircraft. The first three aircraft were delivered on 15 March 2023, with Sweden ordering ten G120TPs and a simulator. For the long term, Sweden is exploring a new advanced trainer.

Credit photo: Michael van der Mee (Scramble Archive)