Kosta Air Base

The air base was closed as a direct result of the strategic reorganization and significant downsizing of the Swedish Armed Forces following the end of the Cold War. The extensive and costly 'Bas 60' and 'Bas 90' dispersal base systems, of which Kosta was a part, were largely dismantled as Sweden's defense doctrine shifted away from preparing for a large-scale invasion.

After being demilitarized and sold by the Swedish Fortifications Agency (Fortifikationsverket), the site has been repurposed for civilian use. The main runway and adjacent taxiways are now famously used as 'Kosta Dragway', a popular and well-established venue for drag racing and other motorsport events, operated by the motor club EMK Skruven. The infrastructure is primarily maintained for these racing activities.

Kosta Air Base, also known as War Air Base 36 (Krigsflygbas 36), was a crucial component of Sweden's 'Bas 60' air base system during the Cold War. It was constructed as a wartime dispersal base, designed to ensure the survival and operational capability of the Swedish Air Force in the event of a surprise attack on main air bases. The base was not home to a permanent squadron in peacetime but was kept in a state of readiness to be activated in case of war or for large-scale exercises. It was equipped to support advanced fighter aircraft of its era, such as the Saab 35 Draken and later the JA 37 Viggen, allowing them to operate from dispersed, camouflaged locations in the dense forests of Småland.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen Kosta Air Base for military or commercial aviation purposes. The cost of upgrading the decades-old infrastructure to meet modern aviation standards would be substantial. Furthermore, its current successful and established use as a motorsport venue makes any prospect of converting it back to an active airfield highly improbable.