This example was donated and flown to the museum from Sweden in 1999. Swedish Air Force Saab J 35J Draken fighter – Aeroseum, Gothenburg Sweden (2017) Swedish Air Force Saab J 35J Draken fighter – Polish Aviation Museum, Krakow (2017) – This example was donated and flown to the museum from Sweden in 1998 Swedish Air Force Saab J 35J Draken fighter and AJSF 37 Viggen photo reconnaissance aircraft (the latter was donated and flown to the museum in 2005) – Polish Aviation Museum, Krakow (2017) Swedish Air Force Saab J 35J Draken (35518) fighter – Prague Aviation Museum, Czech Republic (2017). The latter flew until retired in 1999 and were replaced by the vastly superior fourth generation Saab JAS 39 Gripen (Gryphon). Swedish aircraft included 90 J 35A fighters, 73 J 35B fighters, 24 SK 35C two-seat trainers (converted from older J 35A variants), 120 J 35D fighters with a more powerful Rolls-Royce Avon 300 engine, 60 S 35E reconnaissance aircraft (around half were likely converted from J 35D aircraft), 230 J 35F fighters (produced between 19 with improved avionics and weapons systems), and finally 66 J 35J fighters that were converted from J 35F aircraft with more modern avionics and weapons between 19.

Swedish Air Force Saab J 35F Draken – Aeroseum, Gothenburg Sweden (2017) – located in a declassified Swedish Air Force 1950’s underground hangar 30 metres below the surface! Swedish Air Force Saab J 35F Draken and missile options – Aeroseum, Gothenburg Sweden (2017) Swedish Air Force Saab J 35F Draken fighter – Aeroseum, Gothenburg Sweden (2017) – located in a declassified Swedish Air Force 1950’s underground hangar 30 metres below the surface! They also operated two-seat combat trainers along with ground attack and reconnaissance variants. The first Saab 35 Draken entered service with the Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) in March 1960 as interceptors with a limited ground attack capability. The Saab 35 was actually one of the first fully supersonic aircraft to enter service in Europe and later variants had an impressive maximum speed of Mach 2.0! Standard armament was 2 x 30mm ADEN cannons and a weapons payload of 2,900 kg /6,393 lb for air to air missiles, rockets and bombs. Swedish Air Force Saab J 35 Draken fighters (Swedish Air Force photo) The type was operated by Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Austria. 651 Draken fighters were manufactured between 19 as interceptor, ground attack, two-seat combat trainer and reconnaissance variants (see below for a more detailed history). The Saab 35 Draken proved to be one of the most successful domestic and export combat aircraft for Sweden, yet they never fired a shot in anger! The unique double delta wing design was first flown on October 25th, 1955. Cold War chic that remained in operational service in European skies for 45 years from 1960 to 2005!

It is certainly not pretty to look at, yet its long air intakes and tailless double-delta wing design give it a certain stylistic charm. This is a brief history of Sweden’s latest multirole aircraft.There is just something about the Swedish Saab 35 Draken (Dragon) fighter aircraft that has always fascinated me. The Grippen is still in service today in Sweden and with other air arms, and a next generation Gripen saw deliveries to the Swedish and Brazilian Air Forces commence in 2019. This was another delta wing aircraft with canards, like the Viggen, and it took what the company had learned with the Viggen and Draken, and took it to the next level. In the latter years of the 20th century, though, Saab came out with the JAS 39 Grippen. Then there was the sleek and majestic Lansen, the last purpose-built ground attack aircraft for the Swedish air force. Then there was the Viggen, an equally unique looking machine that was both a fighter and a ground attack aircraft. There was the fearsome Draken, the fearsome and large delta that looks unlike any other interceptor we’ve ever seen. While it may seem like a niche topic, Sweden has developed some of the very best jet aircraft over the years for military use. Recently, at HotCars, we have been looking at the history of some of Sweden’s Cold War jet military jet aircraft.

Draken jet