Swedish Armed Forces continues aviation biofuel trials

In Sweden, the Swedish Armed Forces is closely following the biofuel project that the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) is conducting together with GKN Aerospace Engine Systems Sweden in Trollhättan. Engine tests have been performed in order to study possible differences in performance and engine function when using a 50/50 mix of biofuel compared to performance in engines using only jet fuel. The tests showed that the engine using biofuel had unchanged performance both regarding thrust power and fuel consumption, as compared to traditional fuel. Already in 2017, several successful test flights were conducted with aircraft JAS 39 Gripen with a mixture of fossil-free fuel. Continued tests show unchanged performance with the biofuel, as compared to traditional jet fuel. 

The next step entails more testing to be conducted by the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) during the first quarter of 2021. Then, the FMV, together with their US cooperation partner USAF/NAVAIR, will evaluate the biofuel project and present a conclusion of the tests. The Swedish Armed Forces will receive the FMV’s final report on the project in 2021.