Saab 37 Viggen

Saab 37 Viggen
A SK 37 Viggen in flight
Role	Multirole combat aircraft[1] AJ 37: Fighter bomber SF 37: Photo reconnaissance SH 37: Maritime patrol JA 37: Strike fighter Type of aircraft
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[2]
Number built	329[2]

The Saab 37 Viggen (The Tufted Duck, ambiguous with The Thunderbolt)^[3] is a single-seat, single-engine multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab.^[1] It was the first canard-equipped aircraft to be produced in quantity^[4] and the first to carry an airborne digital central computer with integrated circuits for its avionics, arguably making it the most modern/advanced combat aircraft in Europe at the time of introduction. The digital central computer was the first of its kind in the world, automating and taking over tasks previously requiring a navigator/copilot, facilitating handling in tactical situations where, among other things, high speeds and short decision times determined whether attacks would be successful or not, a system not surpassed until the introduction of the Panavia Tornado into operational service in 1981.^[5]

Development work begun during the early 1950s to develop a successor to the Saab 32 Lansen in the attack role, as well as to the Saab 35 Draken as a fighter. Saab's design team opted for a relatively radical delta wing configuration, as well as to produce the aircraft as an integrated weapon system that operated in conjunction with Sweden's STRIL-6 national electronic air defense system. It was also designed to be operated from runways as short as 500 meters. Work was aided by the "37-annex" under which Sweden could access advanced U.S. aeronautical technology to accelerate both design and production.^[6] The aircraft's aerodynamic design was finalised in 1963. The prototype performed its maiden flight on 8 February 1967 and the following year the Swedish government ordered an initial batch of 175 Viggens. The first of these entered service with the Swedish Air Force on 21 June 1971.

Even as the initial AJ 37 model entered service, Saab was working on further variants of the Viggen. Accordingly, several distinct variants of the Viggen would be produced to perform the roles of fighter bomber/strike fighter (AJ 37), aerial reconnaissance (SF 37), maritime patrol/anti-surface (SH 37) and a two-seat trainer (Sk 37). During the late 1970s, the all-weather interceptor/strike fighter JA 37 variant was introduced. Attempts to export the Viggen to other nations were made, but ultimately proved unsuccessful. In November 2005, the last Viggens were withdrawn from service by the Swedish Air Force, its only operator; by this point, it had been replaced by the newer and more advanced Saab JAS 39 Gripen.