What kind of planes were they?
The planes, a B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress from the American Bomber Task Force, were escorted by two Swedish Jas 39 Gripen jets.
Where were they going?
The four jets flew over Stockholm, Arlanda and Uppsala around lunchtime on Wednesday at an altitude of just under 1,000 metres, before joining the Nordic Response Nato exercise, according to the Swedish Armed Forces’ website.
Why were they flying over Stockholm?
“We’re doing this to make our presence known,” Armed Forces exercise planner Mikael Månsson told Svenska Dagbladet (SvD).
“It’s a clear signal to the Swedish people that we are protecting our national territory alongside our allies, creating safety and security for the Swedish population.”
Does this have anything to do with Sweden’s Prime Minister visiting the US to potentially join Nato?
It doesn’t look like it. According to the Armed Forces’ website, this exercise was “planned a while ago”, so it seems to be a coincidence that it’s occurred just a day before Sweden is rumoured to be joining Nato.
The Armed Forces have been taking part in military exercises with other countries “for some time”, its website says.
Did you see or hear the planes? Let us know in the comments…
Personally, I find it sad to see formerly peaceful, neutral Sweden elect a far-right government, and then hear these government officials engage in war- and fear-mongering talk, and now this display of military jingoism. Sad. Echos of 1914…
Pardon my sarcasm, but sure, having WAR planes flying over brings a great feeling of comfort…….
OK, that wasn’t ‘constructive’, was it? Sorry.
Saw and heard from in front of threatening murder embassy (guess who) in Stockholm. Flying quite slowly and quite quietly compared to noise some planes make taking off or landing at Bromma
I don’t know if it is only me, but I don’t feel safer when there is military presence.
Those of us who live or have lived near US airbases refer to the jarring noise created by these machines as “the sound of freedom.”