Saab 35 Draken

Saab 35 Draken
Swedish Air Force Saab 35F Draken
General information
TypeFighter-interceptor
National originSweden
ManufacturerSvenska Aeroplan AB (SAAB)
StatusRetired from military service
Primary usersSwedish Air Force
Number built651[1]
History
Manufactured1955–1974
Introduction date8 March 1960[2] (frontline service)
First flight25 October 1955
Retired2005 (Austria)
Developed fromSaab 210
Saab 35J
Saab 35C

The Saab 35 Draken (IPA: [²drɑːkɛn]; The Kite, ambiguous with The Dragon)[Nb 1][3] is a Swedish fighter-interceptor developed and manufactured by Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (SAAB) between 1955 and 1974. Development of the Saab 35 Draken started in 1948 as the Swedish air force future replacement for the then also in development Saab 29 Tunnan dayfighter and Saab 32B Lansen night fighter. It featured an innovative but unproven double delta wing, which led to the creation of a sub-scale test aircraft, the Saab 210, which was produced and flown to test this previously-unexplored aerodynamic feature. The full-scale production version entered service with frontline squadrons of the Swedish Air Force on 8 March 1960.[2] It was produced in several variants and types, most commonly as a fighter-interceptor.

The Saab 35 Draken is known for, among other things, its many "firsts" within aviation. It was the first Western European-built combat aircraft with true supersonic capability to enter service and the first fully supersonic aircraft to be deployed in Western Europe.[Note 1][6] Designwise it was one of, if not the first, combat aircraft designed with double delta wings, being drawn up by early 1950.[7] The unconventional wing design also had the side effect of making it the first known aircraft to be capable of and perform the Cobra maneuver.[8][9][10] It was also one of the first Western-European-built aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight,[11] reaching it on 14 January 1960.[12]

The Draken functioned as an effective supersonic fighter aircraft of the Cold War period, although it was never used in conflict. Even though the type was designed and intended as an interceptor, it was considered to be a very capable dogfighter for the era. In Swedish service, it underwent several upgrades, the ultimate of these being the J 35J model. By the mid-1980s, the SAF's Drakens had largely been replaced by the more advanced JA 37 Viggen fighter, while the introduction of the more capable Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter was expected in service within a decade, although delayed. As a consequence of cutbacks and high maintenance costs, the SAF opted to retire the Draken during December 1999. The type was also exported to the air forces of Austria, Denmark and Finland. Danish aircraft have been exported, post-service, to the United States where they have seen use as training aircraft for test pilots.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference saab-scania was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Boström, Valter (1993). Bråvallavingar. Berättelsen om F13 - en flygflottilj under 50 år. Sweden. p. 19. ISBN 9163013606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ "Ängelholms Flygmuseum, Saab J35 Draken history in English" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  4. ^ a b "North American F-100 Super Sabre, Online Photo Library, Armee de l'Air (French Air Force)". f-100.org. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  5. ^ a b "North American F-100 Super Sabre, Online Photo Library, Kongelige Danske Flyvevaben (Royal Danish Air Force)". f-100.org. Archived from the original on 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  6. ^ Jackson, Robert, Men of Power: The Lives of Rolls-Royce Chief Test Pilots Harvey and Jim Heyworth, p. 159
  7. ^ Draken 50 år. Sweden: Svensk Flyghistorisk Förening. 2005. p. 27.
  8. ^ "F10 Kamratförening". www.f10kamratforening.se.
  9. ^ "I kanten av envelopen". February 26, 2011.
  10. ^ Ulf Edlund & Hans Kampf (2009). System 37 Viggen, flyghistorisk revy. Sweden: Svensk flyghistorisk förening. pp. 212, 213.
  11. ^ Draken 50 år. Sweden: Svensk Flyghistorisk Förening. 2005. pp. 33, 59.
  12. ^ "VÄGEN TILL DRAKEN". Retrieved 2021-05-27.


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