- Vidsel
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Vidsel
image_caption =
pushpin_
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 =Älvsbyn Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 =Norrbotten County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 =Norrbotten
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2000 och 2005 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15]
area_total_km2 = 0.77
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 569
population_density_km2 = 736
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=65 |latm=50 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=20 |longm=31 |longs= |longEW=E
website =Vidsel is a locality with about 600 inhabitants in
Älvsbyn Municipality ,Norrbotten County , about 900 km north ofStockholm ,Sweden , in theArctic Circle ; Perhaps its earliest history is as a seasonal settlement, but permanent inhabitants have lived here since the 19th century.The town was mainly founded in the 1950s, because of "Robotförsöksplats Norr" (RFN) (Missile Test Area North). The range forms part of the
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) Testing Directorate, which is responsible for the verification of systems procured for theSwedish Armed Forces .RFN is the largest overland test range in Western Europe, consisting of 1,650 km² of uninhabited forest and marshland, which can be extended by 1,500 km² if required. The installation includes a military base with a 2,300 m runway. Because of its usage as a Swedish and European missile test site, this remote area is often listed in international weather forecasts and maps.
The site has been a test area for most Swedish flight developments, including Draken, Viggen and Gripen. New tests with
EADS Phoenix and Eurofighter, as well as European military trainings, are planned for the future.References
External links
* [http://www.neat.se/ North European Aerospace Test range]
* [http://www.fmv.se/WmTemplates/Page.aspx?id=680 FMV]
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