
A Saab J 32D Lansen of the Swedish Air Force in flight at the Kristianstad Airshow 2006 on August 27th, 2006.
The Saab 32 Lansen (English: "Lance") was a two-seat, high transsonic attack aircraft produced by SAAB from 1955 to 1960 for the Swedish Air Force (Swedish: Flygvapnet). During its long operational life, the Saab 32 also served as a fighter, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and a target-tug aircraft.
Variants[]
- A 32A: Ground-attack and maritime-strike version. 287 aircraft built between 1955 and 1957, retired in 1978. Armed with four 20 mm Bofors nose guns (license-built Hispano Mk V guns) and could carry two SAAB 304 missiles or unguided rocket pods.
- J 32B: All-weather fighter version initially operated only for bad weather / night fighter duties. Two prototypes and 118 production aircraft built between 1958 and 1960, retired in 1973. Armed with four 30 mm ADEN guns, Rb 24 missiles (license-built Red Top) , or 75 mm unguided rocket pods. J 32B was powered by stronger Svenska Flygmotor RM 6A (Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 47A) engine.
- S 32C:Specialized maritime and photo reconnaissance version developed from A 32A. 45 aircraft built between 1958 and 1959, retired in 1978. Equipped with PS-432/A RDF with extended range and with four cameras - two SKa 17 and two SKa 18.
- J 32D: Target tug version. Six J 32B were modified, retired in 1997.
- J 32E: ECM (electronic warfare / electronic countermeasures) version used also for ECM training. Fourteen J 32B were modified, retired in 1997. Aircraft was equipped with jamming system G 24 in one of three versions (for L, S or C bands) used for jamming ground and naval RDF. Additionally Adrian (for S and C bands) and Petrus (for X band) pods were used for jamming aerial RDFs.
- J 32AD: Project of day fighter version from 1953 as interim solution between the J 29 Tunnan and J 35 Draken, designated J 32AD ("D" stands for Dag [day]). Aircraft was lighter, without radar and armed with four 20 mm and one 30 mm guns in nose and different missiles. None built, 120 Hawker Hunter fighters bought instead.
- J 32U: Project of fighter version from 1954 ("U" stands for utveckling [development]) with much better performance than J 32B. Aircraft was equipped with more powerful Rolls-Royce RA 19R engine and had improved wing design. None built.
Users[]
- Sweden
- Swedish Air Force
- F 1 Hässlö
- F 3 Malmslätt
- F 4 Frösön
- F 6 Karlsborg
- F 7 Såtenäs
- F 11 Nyköping
- F 12 Kalmar
- F 13 Norrköping
- F 14 Halmstad
- F 15 Söderhamn
- F 16 Uppsala
- F 17 Kallinge
- F 21 Lulea
- Swedish Air Force