The Saab 37 Viggen is a retired Swedish single-seat, single-engine, short-medium range combat aircraft. Development work on the type was initiated at Saab in 1952 and, following the selection of a radical delta wing configuration, the resulting aircraft performed its first flight on 8 February 1967 and entered service in 21 June 1971. It was the first canard design produced in quantity. The Viggen was also the most advanced fighter jet in Europe until the introduction of the Panavia Tornado into operational service in 1981.
| Role | Attack, fighter, reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| National origin | Sweden |
| Manufacturer | Saab AB |
| First flight | 8 February 1967 |
| Introduction | 21 June 1971 (AJ 37) |
| Retired | 26 June 2007 (SK 37E) |
| Primary user | Swedish Air Force |
| Produced | 1970–1990 |
| Number built | 329 |
Specifications (JA 37 Viggen)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 16.4 m (53 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 10.6 m (34 ft 9 in)
- Height: 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 46 m2 (500 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 9,500 kg (20,944 lb)
- Gross weight: 16,000 kg (35,274 lb) (AJ37 17,000 kg (37,479 lb))
- Max takeoff weight: 20,000 kg (44,092 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Volvo RM8B afterburning turbofan, 72.1 kN (16,200 lbf) thrust dry, 125 kN (28,000 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,231 km/h (1,386 mph, 1,205 kn) at 36,100 ft (11,003 m)
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.1
- Range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) internal fuel only
- Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 203 m/s (40,000 ft/min)
Armament
- 1 × 30 mm Oerlikon KCA cannon with 150 rounds
- 6 missile stations for 2 RB71 Skyflash (only JA37), 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM (JA 37D), or 6 AIM-9 Sidewinder or 4 rocket pods (135 mm, 5.4 in).
- U95 ECM pod (JA 37D)
Photos Rob Vogelaar and Marcel van Leeuwen
