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J35 Draken Saab
J35 Draken
Multi-Role Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
The Saab Draken (dragon) was requested by the Swedish government in 1949 to fulfill a need for a radar equipped, supersonic air-defense interceptor. The Draken design featured a double delta wing and two fixed-geometry oval engine inlets.
About 600 aircraft were built for Sweden as well as other European nations. Sweden's Draken fleet came in six different variants while two Draken models were offered for export. The early models were intended purely for air-defense, but the J35D introduced a ground attack capability. The last model built was the J35F, the final variant to remain in Swedish service. These aircraft have now been retired and replaced by the Gripen.
Export customers included Denmark whose F-35 aircraft were retired in 1993. Finland updated its J35X fleet with new avionics, cockpit displays, navigational/attack systems, and electronic countermeasures during the 1990s but finally retired the Draken in 2000. The only country still operating the Draken is Austria, but these last few planes are due to be retired in 2005 and will be replaced by the Eurofighter.
Data below for J35J
Last modified 19 September 2009

HISTORY:

First Flight (J35A) 25 October 1955
(S35E) 27 June 1963

Service Entry

8 March 1960

CREW:

one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown (5%)

Wing Tip unknown (5%)

DIMENSIONS:

Length 50.33 ft (15.35 m)

Wingspan 30.83 ft (9.40 m)

Height 12.75 ft (3.89 m)

Wing Area 529.6 ft² (49.2 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 18,190 lb (8,250 kg)

Normal Takeoff 24,000 lb (10,900 kg)

Max Takeoff 27,050 lb (12,270 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

6,395 lb (2,900 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Volvo Flygmotor RM6C afterburning turbojet

Thrust 17,650 lb (78.51 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 [clean]; Mach 1.4 with armament
at sea level: unknown

Initial Climb Rate 34,450 ft (10,500 m) / min

Service Ceiling 65,000 ft (19,810 m)

Range typical: 700 nm (1,300 km)
ferry: 1,755 nm (3,250 km)

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 30-mm Aden M/55 cannon (100 rds)

Stations 11 external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile Rb24 (version of AIM-9 Sidewinder), Rb27, Rb28

Air-to-Surface Missile none

Bomb 500 kg bombs

Other rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

J35A Draken Original fighter model

J35B Draken Improved model with a longer tail, modified landing gear, new radar, improved fire control system, air-to-ground datalink, and increased weapon payload capacity

Sk35C Draken Two-seat trainer

J35D Draken Ground attack model with an improved engine, modified engine inlets, greater fuel capacity, and upgraded radar

S35E Draken Reconnaissance model based on the J35D with five cameras located in a modified nose plus an additional camera that can be carried in either of the cannon bays

J35F Draken Air defense fighter based on the J35D with upgraded avionics and able to carry the Falcon air-to-air missile

J35F-2 Draken Upgraded J35F with an IR sensor under the nose

J35H Draken Proposed improved model with a new radar offered to Switzerland; 1 converted

J35J Draken J35F airframes upgraded with improved radar, avionics, and cockpit displays; 64 converted

J35X Draken Export model based on the J35F but with upgraded attack capability

F-35 or A35XD Danish version of the J35X, includes TF-35 trainers and RF-35 reconnaissance models

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: none

KNOWN OPERATORS: Austria, Östereichische Luftstreitkräfte (Austrian Air Force)
Denmark, Kongelige Danske Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force)
Finland, Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force)
Sweden, Svenska Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

J35 Draken

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. 258-259, 300.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 811.

Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 146-147.

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. 198-199.

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

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DESCRIPTION: The Saab Draken (dragon) was requested by the Swedish government in 1949 to fulfill a need for a radar equipped, supersonic air-defense interceptor. The Draken design featured a double delta wing and two fixed-geometry oval engine inlets. About 600 aircraft were built for Sweden as well as other European nations. Sweden's Draken fleet came in six different variants while two Draken models were offered for export. The early models were intended purely for air-defense, but the J35D introduced a ground attack capability. The last model built was the J35F, the final variant to remain in Swedish service. These aircraft have now been retired and replaced by the Gripen. Export customers included Denmark whose F-35 aircraft were retired in 1993. Finland updated its J35X fleet with new avionics, cockpit displays, navigational/attack systems, and electronic countermeasures during the 1990s but finally retired the Draken in 2000. The only country still operating the Draken is Austria, but these last few planes are due to be retired in 2005 and will be replaced by the Eurofighter. Data below for J35J Last modified 19 September 2009
HISTORY:
First Flight	(J35A) 25 October 1955 (S35E) 27 June 1963
Service Entry	8 March 1960
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown (5%)
Wing Tip	unknown (5%)
DIMENSIONS:
Length	50.33 ft (15.35 m)
Wingspan	30.83 ft (9.40 m)
Height	12.75 ft (3.89 m)
Wing Area	529.6 ft² (49.2 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	18,190 lb (8,250 kg)
Normal Takeoff	24,000 lb (10,900 kg)
Max Takeoff	27,050 lb (12,270 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	6,395 lb (2,900 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Volvo Flygmotor RM6C afterburning turbojet
Thrust	17,650 lb (78.51 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 [clean]; Mach 1.4 with armament at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	34,450 ft (10,500 m) / min
Service Ceiling	65,000 ft (19,810 m)
Range	typical: 700 nm (1,300 km) ferry: 1,755 nm (3,250 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 30-mm Aden M/55 cannon (100 rds)
Stations	11 external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	Rb24 (version of AIM-9 Sidewinder), Rb27, Rb28
Air-to-Surface Missile	none
Bomb	500 kg bombs
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
J35A Draken	Original fighter model
J35B Draken	Improved model with a longer tail, modified landing gear, new radar, improved fire control system, air-to-ground datalink, and increased weapon payload capacity
Sk35C Draken	Two-seat trainer
J35D Draken	Ground attack model with an improved engine, modified engine inlets, greater fuel capacity, and upgraded radar
S35E Draken	Reconnaissance model based on the J35D with five cameras located in a modified nose plus an additional camera that can be carried in either of the cannon bays
J35F Draken	Air defense fighter based on the J35D with upgraded avionics and able to carry the Falcon air-to-air missile
J35F-2 Draken	Upgraded J35F with an IR sensor under the nose
J35H Draken	Proposed improved model with a new radar offered to Switzerland; 1 converted
J35J Draken	J35F airframes upgraded with improved radar, avionics, and cockpit displays; 64 converted
J35X Draken	Export model based on the J35F but with upgraded attack capability
F-35 or A35XD	Danish version of the J35X, includes TF-35 trainers and RF-35 reconnaissance models
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Austria, Östereichische Luftstreitkräfte (Austrian Air Force) Denmark, Kongelige Danske Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force) Finland, Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) 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. 258-259, 300. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 811. Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 146-147. 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. 198-199. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery