Byholma Air Base

Military Decommissioning. The closure was a direct result of the Swedish Defence Act of 2000 (Försvarsbeslutet 2000). Following the end of the Cold War, Sweden significantly restructured and downsized its armed forces. The extensive and costly BAS 90 system, of which Byholma was a prime example, was deemed excessive for the new geopolitical landscape. The base was sold by the Swedish Fortifications Agency (Fortifikationsverket) as it was no longer required for the country's defense strategy at the time.

The site is now a privately owned facility known as the Byholma Test Track. The main runway and associated taxiways are used for a variety of commercial purposes, primarily related to the automotive industry. Activities include vehicle testing (performance, braking, handling), driver training for both cars and heavy trucks, and product launches. The long, straight runway also makes it a popular venue for motorsports, particularly drag racing and high-speed 'one-mile' events. The company Byholma Test Track AB manages the site.

Byholma Air Base, also known as Fält 25 (Field 25), was a highly advanced wartime air base built between 1985 and 1990 as part of the BAS 90 system. The BAS 90 concept was a strategic network of dispersed air bases designed to ensure the Swedish Air Force could survive an initial surprise attack and continue to operate effectively. These bases featured a main runway, multiple shorter backup runways, and sections of public roads reinforced to act as emergency runways, all connected by a network of taxiways. Byholma was designed to support modern fighter jets like the Saab 37 Viggen and was prepared for the JAS 39 Gripen. It served as a primary wartime dispersal base for the F 10 Ängelholm wing. Its infrastructure included hardened aircraft shelters, command bunkers, and extensive ground support facilities, all camouflaged and spread out to minimize vulnerability.

There are no official, public plans to reopen Byholma Air Base for military or civilian aviation. The site's current use as a commercial test track and its private ownership present significant hurdles to reactivation. However, due to Sweden's entry into NATO in 2024 and the changed security situation in Europe, the Swedish Armed Forces are actively reassessing the need for dispersed air bases and have begun reactivating some former Cold War airfields. While Byholma is not currently among the publicly named priority sites for reactivation, the strategic concept that led to its creation is once again relevant. Therefore, a future military re-evaluation, though unlikely in the short term, cannot be entirely ruled out.