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1. Saab Group – Saab Group is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania-Vabis, known as Saab-Scania. The two were de-merged in 1995 by the new owners, Investor AB, despite the demerger, both Saab and Scania share the right to use the griffin logo, which originates from the coat of arms of the Swedish region of Scania. Svenska Aeroplan AB was founded in 1937 in Trollhättan, with the merger of Svenska Aero AB, the style Saab replaced SAAB around 1950. Originally manufacturing aircraft, the company sought ways in which to diversify its business, in the late 1940s the company began manufacturing cars at its Saab Automobile division, based in Trollhättan. The first car was the Saab 92, full-scale production started December 12,1949, in the late 1950s Saab ventured into the computer market with Datasaab. The company was a partly of the need to make a computer that would be small enough to mount in an aeroplane as navigational equipment. During the 1960s several computers were developed and sold to European countries, the aircraft computer was used in 1971 in the Viggen. The company was sold in 1975 to Sperry UNIVAC, while Saab retained its flight computer development, in May 1965, the company name was changed to Saab AB to reflect its broad range of activities. In 1968 Saab AB merged with the Swedish lorry, bus and heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturer Scania-Vabis, in 1990 General Motors bought 51 percent of the car division Saab Automobile, and acquired the rest a decade later. In 1991 Investor AB completed a buyout of Saab-Scania AB. Investor AB acquired all the shares in Saab-Scania for approximately SEK21 billion. Saab-Scania became a wholly owned subsidiary of Investor AB and the company was de-listed, in 1995 Saab-Scania was divided by Investor AB into two independent companies, de-merging into Scania AB and Saab AB. The intention by Investor AB was to broaden ownership in the two companies later, following the sale of 50% of the car division Saab Automobile AB to General Motors, the main reason behind the merger with lorry manufacturer Scania-Vabis in 1968 had disappeared. Saab Military Aircraft and British Aerospace formed in 1995 the joint venture company Saab-BAe Gripen AB, to manufacture, market and this co-operation was extended in 2001 with the formation of Gripen International for the same purpose. From 1998 until 2005 the largest shareholder in Saab was the British aerospace company BAE Systems, following its acquisition of a 35% stake from Investor AB by its predecessor, in January 2005, BAE Systems reduced its shareholding to 20%. Investor AB maintained a 20% share,16 November 1999, Saab announced its intention is to purchase Celsius AB and the acquisition was concluded by early March 2000. In December 2005 Saab joined the Dassault nEUROn project as a major partner, in October 2008 the company announced its intention to merge its operations with that of Simrad Optronics
2. Saab 17 – The Saab 17 was a Swedish bomber-reconnaissance aircraft. The project first started at the end of the 1930s as the L10 by ASJA, the wings were reinforced to make it possible for use as a dive bomber. Since there was a shortage of engines the aircraft were flown to their destination, the aircraft was also made in three versions with different engines. Two prototype L-10 aircraft were ordered, the first being powered by a 880 hp Nohab-built Bristol Mercury XII and the second by a 1,065 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp. The production B 17A used a Swedish-built Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp, the B 17B a Svenska Flygmotor AB -built Bristol Mercury XXIV, the aircraft could be fitted with wheels, skis or floats. A unique feature of the Saab 17 was its use of the landing gear assembly, with its large covers. The first test flight was on 18 May 1940 and first deliveries to the Flygvapnet were in 1942. However, the development of the turbojet meant it had a short service history, two B 17As were sold to Finland in 1959 and 1960, serving as target tugs for the Finnish Air Force, both succumbing to accidents fairly quickly. For some months from very early 194515 B 17A were issued to DANFORCE. XIbis R. C. 40D engine, austria Austrian Air Force Ethiopia Imperial Ethiopian Air Force Finland Finnish Air Force Sweden Swedish Air Force Five SAAB 17s are known to be in existence today. The Swedish Air Force Museum in Linköping has two aircraft in their collection, one S 17BL and one B 17A, the latter being kept in airworthy condition, another B 17A is on display at the Danish Museum of Science and Technology in Helsingør. Two former Ethiopian B 17As were recovered in the 1990s and purchased by a South African collector and these are last known to have been relocated to Lithuania but their current status is not clear. Washington, D. C. / London, Smithsonian Institution Press / Putnam, foreword by Bill Gunston, ed. Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War II. New York & London, Military Press & Crescent Books
3. Saab 18 – The SAAB18 was a twin-engine bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, designed and built for use by the Swedish Air Force by Svenska Aeroplan AB in response to a 1938 design competition. Due to delays, it did not enter service until 1944, intended as a replacement for the Junkers Ju 86 in service with the Swedish Air Force, the requirement that led to the Saab 18 called for a three-seat fast reconnaissance aircraft. AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstädernas Aeroplanavdelning, SAAB, and AB Götaverken submitted designs for consideration by the Swedish Air Force, as a number of Americans were on the design staff of SAAB and ASJA, the Saab 18s design shared some similarities with American designs. Armament consisted of three 13. 2-millimetre machine guns, one fixed firing forwards and controlled by the pilot, up to 1,000 kilograms of bombs could be carried in an internal bay, while up to eight 50-kilogram bombs could be carried on underwing hardpoints. Flight testing showed that the aircraft was underpowered, however, as there was no immediate prospect for the acquisition of more powerful engines, the Saab 18 was ordered into production in both bomber and reconnaissance versions. The B 18A entered service in June 1944, and quickly became Swedens standard medium bomber aircraft, as license-built Daimler-Benz DB605 liquid-cooled, inline engines had become available, they were incorporated into the improved Saab 18B, which first flew on 10 July 1944. Ordered into production as the B 18B dive bomber, the 18B design was developed into the T 18B. Due to difficulties with the torpedoes, however, the T 18B was instead developed into a heavy ground-attack aircraft, production of the Saab 18 totaled 245 examples, with the last T 18B being delivered in 1948. Only a single example of the Saab 18 survives today, a B 18B and it is part of the collection of the Flygvapenmuseum, the Swedish Air Force Museum near Linköping in Sweden. One of a group of eight aircraft lost in a snowstorm in 1946, Saab 18A Two Pratt & Whitney-powered prototypes. B 18A The first production version, bomber aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial piston engines,62 built, all converted to S 18A standard 1946-47. S 18A Photo-reconnaissance conversion of B 18A, fitted with PS-18/A radar, Saab 18B Single Daimler-Benz powered prototype. B 18B Dive bomber version, powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 605B piston engines,119 built, fitted with up to eight air-to-surface rockets in the late 1940s. T 18B Projected torpedo-bomber variant, developed as anti-shipping version, armed with 2 ×20 mm cannons and 1 ×57 mm cannon. Used as test bed for Rb 302 anti-ship missiles. Sweden Swedish Air Force Data from General characteristics Crew,3 Length,13.23 m Wingspan,17 m Height,4.35 m Wing area,43. 92mm fixed forwards-firing gun in wing root, two 13. 2mm defensive guns. Ejection-history. org B18 - Saab 18 Movie footage of a Saab 18 taking off and in-flight, the Swedish Air Force Museums YouTube channel
4. SAAB 21 – The SAAB21 was a Swedish fighter/attack aircraft from SAAB that first took to the air in 1943. It was designed as a twin boom pusher configuration, where the propeller was mounted in the rear of the fuselage, sweden wished to ensure its continued neutrality through a policy of armed strength during World War II but was effectively denied access to foreign weapons. The original design began in 1939, based around the use of a Bristol Taurus engine within the center fuselage, behind the pilot. The project remained dormant until 1941, in 1947, the aircraft was extensively redesigned with over 50% airframe, tailplane and wing changes and fitted with a de Havilland Goblin turbojet, acquiring the new designation Saab J 21R. The first of three J21 prototypes flew on 30 July 1943 flown by SAAB test pilot Claes Smith, during the takeoff, the wrong flap setting resulted in the prototype running into a fence at the end of the runway, damaging one of the landing gears. The subsequent test flight ended with a landing on the undamaged undercarriage units. Utilized mainly in the role, the limitation of the design led to a proposed front-engine replacement. An evaluation of the two led to the decision to retain the J21 series but to consider the modification of the airframe to accommodate a jet engine. While production line J 21A series aircraft were first selected for conversion, in service use, the J 21A was phased out after 1954. J 21A-1 First production series of fighter version,54 built between 1945 and 1946, retired in 1949. J 21A-2 Second and third series of fighter version. Aircraft had better avionics and was armed with a Swedish 20 mm gun, a 21A-3 First and second production series of attack version. Aircraft was basically J 21A-2 equipped with bomb aiming sight, was able to use two RATO rockets, and was armed with unguided rockets and bombs. J 21B Planned version armed with three 20 mm nose guns, radar in the boom, improved aerodynamics and Daimler-Benz DB 605E or Rolls-Royce Griffon engines. Combat Aircraft since 1945 General characteristics Crew, one Length,10.45 m Wingspan,11.6 m Height,3.97 Wing area,22.2 m² Empty weight,3,250 kg Loaded weight,4,150 kg Max
5. Saab 21R – The Saab 21R was a Swedish twin-boom fighter/attack aircraft made by Saab. It was a development of the piston-engined Saab 21 which along with the Russian Yakovlev Yak-15 was one of the only two jet fighters successfully converted from a piston-powered aircraft. As a fighter, its designation in the Swedish Air Force was J 21R. In early 1945, Saab launched a project to determine how to provide the J 21A with a jet engine to get the experience of jet engines and flying at high speeds. The goal was to catch up with the development of jet aircraft, which were moving ahead fast in England, when the project started, the engine choice was an open question. However, as the project progressed it became possible to buy a Goblin 2 jet engine from de Havilland Engine Company and this engine became the Air Forces first Jet Engine, RM1. The rebuilt J 21A received type designation J21R, First flight with Saabs first jet took place on 10 March 1947. Because of the engine exhaust position, the stabilizer had to be raised, measures to improve the aerodynamic design of the aircraft were carried out, for example, curved front glass in the canopy and a refined wing leading edge. Airbrakes were introduced in the form of an upward and a flap on the outer wings trailing edge. Ejection seat improvements were made to enable ejections at high speed, fuel volume increased significantly with the use of tanks in the middle wing and large wingtip tanks. The attack version A 21R added 14.5 cm attack rockets placed under the middle wing, furthermore, an alternative external machine gun pod was created. A big sensation was that it was possible to fire all 13 weapons at the same time and this was an interesting sensation for the pilot as well. A production of 124 planes was planned originally, including four prototypes, when experience with the type as a fighter was gained with the F10 wing it was concluded that all aircraft needed to be changed to attack aircraft. The production series was reduced to 64 aircraft. Of these,34 were J21RA fitted with the Goblin 2 engine, RM1,30 J21RB with a Swedish-made Goblin 3 engine, RM1A, with a thrust of 1500kp. The first prototype Saab 21R first flew on 10 March 1947, the aircraft first entered service with F10 in August 1950. J 21RA / A 21RA First production series, powered by British-built engines,34 built in 1950, J 21RB / A 21RB Second production series, powered by Swedish-built engines,30 built between 1950 and 1952, retired in 1956
6. Saab 29 Tunnan – The Saab 29, colloquially called Flygande tunnan, was a Swedish fighter designed and manufactured by Saab in the 1940s. Despite its rotund appearance, from which its name derives, the J29 was a fast and it served effectively in both fighter and fighter-bomber roles into the 1970s. In the aftermath of the Second World War, it was decided that Sweden required an air defence utilising the newly developed jet propulsion technology. Accordingly, project JxR was initiated in the months of 1945. This led to a pair of proposals being issued by the Saab design team, the first of these, codenamed R101, was a cigar-shaped aircraft which bore a resemblance to the American Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The second design, which would later be picked as the winner, was the design, codenamed R1001. In order to make the wing as thin as possible, Saab elected to locate the retractable undercarriage upon the fuselage rather than upon the wings. For the reason of lateral stability during take-off and landing, automatically-locking leading edge slots, which were interconnected with the flaps, were also deemed necessary. In order to further test the design of the wing, it was decided to modify a single Saab Safir. The first final sketches of the aircraft, incorporating the new information, was drawn in January 1946, the originally envisioned powerplant for the type was the de Havilland Goblin turbojet engine. However, in December 1945, information on the newer and more powerful de Havilland Ghost engine became available, the structure employed a complicated mixture of stressed skin and heavy frames in order to meet conflicting requirements on space, strength, rigidity and accessibility. However, faults were encountered with the aileron servomotors which delayed the first flight of the first prototype, on 1 September 1948, the first of the Saab 29 prototypes conducted its maiden flight, which lasted for half an hour. Following the flight, Moore described the aircraft as being, on the ground an ugly duckling – in the air, because of the shape of its fuselage, the Saab J29 quickly received the nickname Flygande Tunnan, or Tunnan for short. While the demeaning nickname was not appreciated by SAAB, its shortform was eventually officially adopted, a total of four prototypes were built for the aircrafts test program. The first two lacked armaments, carrying heavy test equipment in their place instead, while the prototype was armed with four 20mm automatic guns. In 1948, production of the type commenced, in May 1951, from 1950 to 1956, at which point manufacturing was terminated, a total of 661 Tunnans were completed, making it the largest production run for any Saab aircraft. The Saab 29 Tunnan is a jet fighter, possessing the distinction of being the first Swedish aircraft to be specifically designed to use jet propulsion. The two-spar wing is a single piece structure attached to the fuselage by four bolts, the undercarriage was hydraulically retracted during flight and was designed to be suitable for landing upon rough grass airstrips
7. Saab 32 Lansen – The Saab 32 Lansen was a two-seat, transonic military aircraft designed and manufactured by Saab from 1955 to 1960 for the Swedish Air Force. Three principal variants of the Lansen were built for attack, fighter, during its long operational life, the Saab 32 also served as an electronic warfare platform and target-tug aircraft. In Autumn 1946, the Saab company began internal studies aimed at developing a replacement aircraft for the Saab B 18/S18 as Swedens standard attack aircraft. On 20 December 1948, a phase one contract for the design and mock-up of the aircraft was issued. It had to be capable of being launched in any weather conditions, in response, Saab elected to develop a twin-seat aircraft with a low-mounted wing, and equipped with advanced electronics. The P1150 would break new grounds for the Swedish Air Force, being their first two-seat jet aircraft, Saab had initially envisaged powering the P1150 with the indigenously produced STAL Dovern turbojet engine.5, instead. The single Avon engine provided the Saab A 32A with a thrust to weight ratio of about 0, on 3 November 1952, the first P1150 prototype conducted its first flight. Triangular fences were added near the roots during flight testing in order to improve airflow when the aircraft was being flown at a high angle of attack. A small batch of P1150 prototypes completed design and evaluation trials with series production of the newly designated Saab 32 Lansen beginning in 1953, development work on the project was recorded as having involved more than 2,000,000 man-hours in total. These two models differed substantially from the first, the J32 B being fitted with a new engine for flight performance along with new navigation. On 7 January 1957, the first J32 B Lansen conducted its maiden flight, on 26 Match 1957, production of the Lansen continued until May 1960. The Saab 32 Lansen had a general arrangement, being one of the first aircraft in the world to be specifically developed to fly attack missions. From the outset, it was designed to provide support for the installation of electronic warfare. The aircraft could be armed with a total of four 20 mm cannon, as well as wing pylons for various calibers of rockets and assorted bombs. The J32 variant carried four 30 mm ADEN cannons while the A32 had an armament of four 20 mm Bofors m/49 cannon hidden under flaps in the nose. The J32 differed substantially from the variant, Saab describing it as to all intents a new aircraft, being fitted with a more powerful engine and newer armaments. The attack variant of the Lansen could carry up to two RB04 missiles, one underneath each wing, the fuselage of the Lansen was produced with a sleek, streamlined airframe with clean lines. The Lansen was the first aircraft on which every line had been a result of mathematical calculation
8. Saab 35 Draken – The Saab 35 Draken was a Swedish fighter aircraft manufactured by Saab between 1955 and 1974. The Draken was built to replace the Saab J 29 Tunnan and, later, the indigenous J 35 was an effective supersonic Cold War fighter that was also successfully exported to Austria, Denmark, Finland, and to the United States as a test pilot training aircraft. The Draken was the first fully supersonic aircraft to be deployed in Western Europe, as the jet era started, Sweden foresaw the need for a jet fighter that could intercept bombers at high altitude and also successfully engage fighters. Although other interceptors such as the US Air Forces F-104 Starfighter were being conceived during the same period, in September 1949, the Swedish Defence Material Administration issued a request for a fighter/interceptor aircraft, and work began at Saab the same year. Drakens design incorporated a distinctive double-delta configuration, with one delta wing within another larger delta, the inner wing has an 80° angle for high-speed performance, while the outer 60° wing gives good performance at low speeds. Propulsion was provided by a single Svenska Flygmotor RM6B/C turbojet, a ram turbine, under the nose, provided emergency power, and the engine had a built-in emergency starter unit. The Draken could deploy a parachute to reduce its landing distance. The double-delta shape was so revolutionary that it warranted the only sub-scale test aircraft built in Sweden, the Saab 210 tested the concept of the double delta, first flying on 21 January 1952. The 210s successful testing led to an order for three full-size Draken prototypes. The first prototype, not fitted with an afterburner, made its flight on 25 October 1955. The second prototype, equipped with an afterburner, unintentionally broke the barrier on its first flight while climbing. Although the J35 Draken was not designed to be a dog-fighter and it entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1960. A total of 651 Saab Drakens were manufactured, swedens fleet of Drakens came in six different versions, and two other models of the Draken were offered for export. The early models were intended purely for air defense, the last model built was the J 35F, the final version to remain in Swedish service. These aircraft were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the Saab JAS39 Gripen, the J35 Draken design underwent several upgrades. The last was the J 35J version, made in the late 1980s, although by then, the J 35J was a service-life extension program because the delivery of the new Saab JAS39 Gripen was suffering delays. Its export customers included Denmark and Finland, in May 1985, the Austrian Air Force purchased 24 J 35Ds refurbished by Saab. The Danish Drakens are so far the heaviest of the series to have flown, Danish J35 aircraft were retired in 1993
9. Saab 37 Viggen – The Saab 37 Viggen is a Swedish single-seat, single-engine, short-medium range combat aircraft. The Viggen holds the distinction of being the first canard design to be produced in quantity, several distinctive variants of the Viggen were produced to perform the roles of strike fighter, aerial reconnaissance, maritime patrol aircraft and a two-seat trainer. In the late 1970s, the all-weather fighter-interceptor aircraft JA37 variant was introduced, in November 2005, the Viggen was retired from service by the Swedish Air Force, the sole operator of the type, having been replaced by the newer Saab JAS39 Gripen. The Viggen was initially developed as a replacement for the Saab 32 Lansen in the attack role. Between 1952 and 1957, the first studies towards what would become the Viggen were carried out, over 100 different concepts were examined in these studies, involving both single- and twin engine configurations, both traditional and double delta wings, and canard wings. Even VTOL designs were considered, with separate lift engines, but were identified as being unacceptable. From the onset, the Viggen was planned as a weapon system, to be operated in conjunction with the newest revision of Swedens national electronic air defense system. It was used as the standard platform, capable of being efficiently adapted to perform all tactical mission roles. Other requirements included supersonic ability at low level, Mach 2 performance at altitude, the aircraft was also designed from the beginning to be easy to repair and service, even for personnel without much training. However, Bruzelius theory has been discredited by Simon Moores and Jerker Widén, in December 1961, the Swedish government gave its approval for the development of Aircraft System 37, which would ultimately become the Viggen. In February 1962, approval of the configuration was given and was followed by a development contract in October 1962. According to aviation authors Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist, the project was by far the largest industrial development task ever attempted in Sweden, during the 1960s, the Viggen accounted for 10 per cent of all Swedish R&D funding. The use of a thrust reverser enabled the sought short landing performance, during development, Saab had opted to power the type using a single large turbofan engine. In place of the Medway, Saab chose to adopt a version of the American Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine. The RM8 was heavily redesigned, using new materials to accommodate flight at Mach-2 speeds, a Swedish-built afterburner, and a fully variable nozzle. This first flight, which lasted for 43 minutes, was flown by Erik Dahlström, Saabs chief test pilot, writing at the time, aerospace publication Flight International described the flight as having been Swedens astonishing unilateral stand in the front rank of advanced aircraft-building nations. Each of the seven prototypes were assigned different roles, although the aircraft were focused on supporting the development of the initial production variant. In 1967, the Swedish Government concluded that the in-development AJ37 Viggen would be cheaper and superior to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II