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AJ37 Viggen Saab
AJ37 Viggen
Attack Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
The System 37 project was launched in 1960 to produce a family of aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability. The Viggen family was designed for multiple kinds of missions, including fighter (JA), attack (AJ), reconnaissance (SF, SH), and training (SK). The first to be built, the AJ, is primarily a ground and sea attack aircraft with a secondary fighter role.
The Viggen design utilizes a large double delta wing, large flapped canards, tandem wheel main landing gear, and thrust reversers to achieve short takeoff and landings (STOL) from rough terrain and country roads. All remaining front line AJ37 aircraft are of the SF37 and SH37 varieties equipped for all-weather day/night reconnaissance and all-weather maritime surveillance/strike respectively.
The Viggen fleet is gradually being reduced in number as Gripen production progresses.
Last modified 01 February 2005

HISTORY:

First Flight (AJ37) 8 February 1967
(SF37) 21 May 1973
(SH37) 10 December 1973
(JA37) 27 September 1974

Service Entry

(AJ37) 21 June 1971
(SF37) April 1977
(JA37) 1979

CREW: 1 pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 53.48 ft (16.30 m)

Wingspan 34.77 ft (10.60 m)

Height 18.38 ft (5.60 m)

Wing Area 495 ft² (46.0 m²)

Canard Area

unknown

WEIGHTS:

Empty 27,000 lb (12,250 kg)

Typical Load 37,480 lb (17,000 kg)

Max Takeoff unknown

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

13,000 lb (6,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Volvo Flygmotor RM8A afterburning turbofan

Thrust 25,970 lb (115.5 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.0
at sea level: 910 mph (1,460 km/h), Mach 1.2

Initial Climb Rate 40,000 ft (12,200 m) / min

Service Ceiling 60,000 ft (18,300 m)

Range typical: 540 nm (1,000 km)
ferry: 1,080 nm (2,000 km)

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun none

Stations 7 external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile AIM-9 Sidewinder (RB24), RB28

Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-65 Maverick (RB75), RB04, RB05, RBS15

Bomb various bombs

Other rocket pods, ECM pods, recon pods, gun pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

AJ37 Single-seat all-weather attack fighter; 110 built

JA37 Single-seat multi-role fighter; 149 built

SF37 Single-seat all-weather armed photo-reconnaissance model with a modified nose containing cameras, infrared sensors, and ECM equipment; 26 built

SH37 Single-seat all-weather ocean surveillance model with a search radar in the nose; 26 built

AJS37 Designation applied to AJ37, SF37, and SH37 aircraft upgraded for air-defense, attack, and reconnaissance duties; about 115 converted

SK37 Two-seat combat-capable trainer; 18 built

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

none

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Sweden, Svenska Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

AJ37 Viggen

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 242, 272, 277-278, 301.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 812-813, Saab-37 Viggen.

FAS Viggen site

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 238-240.

Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 148-149.

Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 182.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 202-203.

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 91.

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DESCRIPTION: The System 37 project was launched in 1960 to produce a family of aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability. The Viggen family was designed for multiple kinds of missions, including fighter (JA), attack (AJ), reconnaissance (SF, SH), and training (SK). The first to be built, the AJ, is primarily a ground and sea attack aircraft with a secondary fighter role. The Viggen design utilizes a large double delta wing, large flapped canards, tandem wheel main landing gear, and thrust reversers to achieve short takeoff and landings (STOL) from rough terrain and country roads. All remaining front line AJ37 aircraft are of the SF37 and SH37 varieties equipped for all-weather day/night reconnaissance and all-weather maritime surveillance/strike respectively. The Viggen fleet is gradually being reduced in number as Gripen production progresses. Last modified 01 February 2005
HISTORY:
First Flight	(AJ37) 8 February 1967 (SF37) 21 May 1973 (SH37) 10 December 1973 (JA37) 27 September 1974
Service Entry	(AJ37) 21 June 1971 (SF37) April 1977 (JA37) 1979
CREW:	1 pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	53.48 ft (16.30 m)
Wingspan	34.77 ft (10.60 m)
Height	18.38 ft (5.60 m)
Wing Area	495 ft² (46.0 m²)
Canard Area	unknown
WEIGHTS:
Empty	27,000 lb (12,250 kg)
Typical Load	37,480 lb (17,000 kg)
Max Takeoff	unknown
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	13,000 lb (6,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Volvo Flygmotor RM8A afterburning turbofan
Thrust	25,970 lb (115.5 kN) with afterburner
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.0 at sea level: 910 mph (1,460 km/h), Mach 1.2
Initial Climb Rate	40,000 ft (12,200 m) / min
Service Ceiling	60,000 ft (18,300 m)
Range	typical: 540 nm (1,000 km) ferry: 1,080 nm (2,000 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none
Stations	7 external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	AIM-9 Sidewinder (RB24), RB28
Air-to-Surface Missile	AGM-65 Maverick (RB75), RB04, RB05, RBS15
Bomb	various bombs
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods, recon pods, gun pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
AJ37	Single-seat all-weather attack fighter; 110 built
JA37	Single-seat multi-role fighter; 149 built
SF37	Single-seat all-weather armed photo-reconnaissance model with a modified nose containing cameras, infrared sensors, and ECM equipment; 26 built
SH37	Single-seat all-weather ocean surveillance model with a search radar in the nose; 26 built
AJS37	Designation applied to AJ37, SF37, and SH37 aircraft upgraded for air-defense, attack, and reconnaissance duties; about 115 converted
SK37	Two-seat combat-capable trainer; 18 built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Sweden, Svenska Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 242, 272, 277-278, 301. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 812-813, Saab-37 Viggen. FAS Viggen site Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 238-240. Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 148-149. Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 182. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 202-203. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 91.