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JA 37 Viggen Saab
JA 37 Viggen
Multi-Role 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 last to be built, the JA 37, was an interceptor with a secondary ground attack capability.
Although the Swedish requirements called for high standards in performance, sortie rates, and avionics, the Viggen successfully met its goals. A total of 329 Viggens were built, and the JA 37 fleet was continuously updated through the 1990s to operate newer weapons developed for the Gripen. However, the Gripen finally replaced the Viggen force by 2005.
Last modified 21 February 2011

HISTORY:

First Flight (AJ 37) 8 February 1967
(SF 37) 21 May 1973
(SH 37) 10 December 1973
(JA 37) 27 September 1974

Service Entry

(AJ 37) 21 June 1971
(SF 37) April 1977
(JA 37) 1979

CREW: one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 53.81 ft (16.40 m)

Wingspan 34.77 ft (10.60 m)

Height 19.35 ft (5.90 m)

Wing Area 495 ft² (46.0 m²)

Canard Area

unknown

WEIGHTS:

Empty 26,000 lb (11,800 kg)

Normal Takeoff 33,070 lb (15,000 kg)

Max Takeoff 37,500 lb (17,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

13,000 lb (6,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Volvo Flygmotor RM8B afterburning turbofan

Thrust 16,200 lb (72.1 kN)
28,100 lb (125 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
at sea level: 840 mph (1,335 km/h), Mach 1.1

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 one 30-mm Oerlikon KCA cannon (150 rds)

Stations seven external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile AIM-9 Sidewinder (RB24, RB74), AIM-4 Falcon (RB27), Skyflash (RB71), AIM-120 AMRAAM (RB99)

Air-to-Surface Missile none

Bomb 120-kg bombs

Other 135-mm rocket pods, U95 ECM pod

KNOWN VARIANTS:

AJ 37 Single-seat all-weather attack aircraft with a secondary fighter role; 110 built

JA 37 Single-seat interceptor with a secondary surface attack capability; 149 built

JA 37C Upgrade for older JA 37 airframes providing improved avionics

JA 37D, JA 37Di Upgrade programs for the JA 37 fleet to install new avionics and software

SF 37 Single-seat all-weather armed photo-reconnaissance model with a modified nose containing cameras, infrared sensors, and ECM equipment in place of a radar; 26 built

SH 37 Single-seat all-weather ocean surveillance model with a search radar in the nose and equipped with anti-ship missiles; 26 built

SK 37 Two-seat trainer without a radar; 18 built

SK 37E SK 37 aircrames modified as electronic warfare trainers; 10 converted

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

none

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Sweden, Svenska Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

JA 37 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.

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

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 last to be built, the JA 37, was an interceptor with a secondary ground attack capability. Although the Swedish requirements called for high standards in performance, sortie rates, and avionics, the Viggen successfully met its goals. A total of 329 Viggens were built, and the JA 37 fleet was continuously updated through the 1990s to operate newer weapons developed for the Gripen. However, the Gripen finally replaced the Viggen force by 2005. Last modified 21 February 2011
HISTORY:
First Flight	(AJ 37) 8 February 1967 (SF 37) 21 May 1973 (SH 37) 10 December 1973 (JA 37) 27 September 1974
Service Entry	(AJ 37) 21 June 1971 (SF 37) April 1977 (JA 37) 1979
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	53.81 ft (16.40 m)
Wingspan	34.77 ft (10.60 m)
Height	19.35 ft (5.90 m)
Wing Area	495 ft² (46.0 m²)
Canard Area	unknown
WEIGHTS:
Empty	26,000 lb (11,800 kg)
Normal Takeoff	33,070 lb (15,000 kg)
Max Takeoff	37,500 lb (17,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	13,000 lb (6,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Volvo Flygmotor RM8B afterburning turbofan
Thrust	16,200 lb (72.1 kN) 28,100 lb (125 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 at sea level: 840 mph (1,335 km/h), Mach 1.1
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	one 30-mm Oerlikon KCA cannon (150 rds)
Stations	seven external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	AIM-9 Sidewinder (RB24, RB74), AIM-4 Falcon (RB27), Skyflash (RB71), AIM-120 AMRAAM (RB99)
Air-to-Surface Missile	none
Bomb	120-kg bombs
Other	135-mm rocket pods, U95 ECM pod
KNOWN VARIANTS:
AJ 37	Single-seat all-weather attack aircraft with a secondary fighter role; 110 built
JA 37	Single-seat interceptor with a secondary surface attack capability; 149 built
JA 37C	Upgrade for older JA 37 airframes providing improved avionics
JA 37D, JA 37Di	Upgrade programs for the JA 37 fleet to install new avionics and software
SF 37	Single-seat all-weather armed photo-reconnaissance model with a modified nose containing cameras, infrared sensors, and ECM equipment in place of a radar; 26 built
SH 37	Single-seat all-weather ocean surveillance model with a search radar in the nose and equipped with anti-ship missiles; 26 built
SK 37	Two-seat trainer without a radar; 18 built
SK 37E	SK 37 aircrames modified as electronic warfare trainers; 10 converted
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. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 238-240. 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.