The Princess and the aircraft: Swedish Crown Princess learns about Stockholm's Gripen

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria has spent the autumn learning about Stockholm's air force, including both the practical and strategic work carried out within the branch. 

Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée gained an understanding through a course run by the Swedish Air Force Air Warfare Centre, which encompassed the entire air domain in areas such as its history, air and space power, operational planning, command and control, the air base concept and air defence. 

During the training, she flew in a JAS 39 Gripen above northern Sweden and visited the Air Force Memorial Hall.

• Former Sandhurst commandant celebrated with honour at Windsor Castle investiture
• Colonel Erica Bridge: The Army officer making history as the first female Crown Equerry
• German president tells King Charles how BFBS kept him glued to the radio as a teen

"The aim has been to provide insight into the air and space domain and knowledge of what the air force represents," said Major General Jonas Wilkman, the commander of the Swedish air force.

As part of the course, the Crown Princess went to the Air Defence Regiment in Halmstad, which involved an introduction to Nato's Integrated Air and Missile Defence system. 

Victoria was also shown the Patriot system, tried several simulators and named an air command and control centre. 

When she visited the Air Warfare Centre, she heard briefings on the air force's Nato mission in Poland and the preparations for it, including night-time air-to-air refuelling and counter-UAS operations, while she was also given an overview of the LOKE counter-drone system and engaged with simulated drones. 

Alongside this already wide-ranging exposure to the air force, the Crown Princess flew a simulated mission herself at the nation's simulation centre. 

"The Crown Princess flew with the squadron commander, and together with the four-ship formation they successfully completed the mission," said Johan Lörelius, the Chief Master Sergeant at the Air Warfare Centre. 

"She was highly focused and impressed by the tactics, cooperation and capabilities of the fighter aircraft."

Finally, she went to see the Swedish Space Corporation and Esrange, Stockholm's platform for scientific space missions. 

More than 1,200 research rockets and balloons have been launched from the site, and a satellite launch capability is now being established there.