Vidsel
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Vidsel is a village in Älvsbyn Municipality, Norrbotten County, about 900km north of Stockholm, Sweden, in the Arctic Circle; 619 inhabitants (2000). 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 "Robotförsökplats Norr" (RFN) (Missile Test Area North). The range forms part of the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) Testing Directorate, which is responsible for the verification of systems procured for the Swedish 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.
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