In the aftermath of World War II, the demand for cutting-edge jet fighter technology became paramount. In the 1960s, the Saab J35 Draken existed merely as a vision in the minds of ambitious Swedish engineers. The notion of a tail-less double-delta wing aircraft was exhilarating, but represented a leap into unexplored realms.
Undeterred, much like a dragon breathing fire, Saab engineers tackled the challenge with unwavering determination – a saga worthy of legends.
Development of the Saab J35 Draken
The Swedish Air Force, determined not to fall behind in the development of advanced jet technology, set its sights on a supersonic fighter capable of intercepting bombers at high altitudes. A bold idea was developed, leading the Defence Materiel Administration to lay out a set of requirements for a cutting-edge interceptor.
Unlike its contemporary, the US Air Force’s Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, this Nordic creation had a distinctive role: operate from reinforced public roads, a strategic approach developed by the Swedish Ministry of Defence during the Cold War to guard against potential nuclear threats. Additionally, it needed to be capable of conducting operations in all weather conditions.
Enter the Saab J35 Draken – the “Nordic Dragon” – which embraced the challenge.
The J35, a testament to innovative design and engineering prowess, emerged from a daring decision to adopt the double-delta wing configuration. Despite being untested and potentially fraught with challenges, it provided a solution to many critical issues. The delta wing, with its robust structure and ample internal volume for fuel storage, held promise, albeit with a susceptibility to drag.
In the absence of modern aids like computer-aided testing and flight simulation, Swedish engineers began a slow and meticulous journey. After extensive wind tunnel testing and test flights, they crafted a small but airworthy prototype, the Saab 210 – or “Little Dragon.” Taking its first flight over Stockholm in January 1952, the Little Dragon breathed life into the J35 Draken.
Saab J35 Draken specs
The J35 Draken’s design was unique, featuring a double-delta wing configuration – a pioneering concept. This structure, with its distinctively sharp angles, was instrumental in achieving the desired balance between high-speed performance and low-speed stability.
The J35’s aerodynamic design, optimized for high-speed flight, was complemented by an afterburner-equipped turbojet engine that granted it extraordinary speed capabilities. In fact, it was one of the first Western European-built aircraft to break Mach 2.
The aircraft’s body was meticulously designed, with the cockpit providing a wide field of view for the pilot. It was equipped with advanced radar and fire-control systems, which were state-of-the-art for its time. The J35’s fuselage was divided into front and rear sections, bolted together and housing various systems.
The J35’s primary armament was carried externally and consisted of up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles. The aircraft could also carry various types of rockets and bombs internally, and it also allowed for the installation of either two 30 mm cannons or additional external fuel tanks.
A rather bouncy start
The beginning of the Saab J35 Draken’s service life wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.
The double-delta wing configuration, a revolutionary idea at the time, proved to be a wicked beast to tame. With its unstable nature, landing the aircraft was a high-stakes game requiring manual stabilization – a tricky feat for any pilot. However, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, the challenge presented an unexpected opportunity – the discovery of a maneuver unknown to any other nation at the time.
Cobra Maneuver
In their quest to master the unpredictable beast, Swedish test pilots stumbled upon a secret weapon: the Cobra Maneuver. As the J35 Draken entered an uncontrollable stall at high alpha, they discovered they could control it by quickly negating the angle of attack to counter the suspension.
Voila! They’d turned the J35 into its own airbrake, reducing its speed instantaneously.
With its exceptional speed, range and complex systems, the J35 brought a new dimension to the term “super stall.” The Cobra Maneuver was a technically-challenging display of controlled stalling. It demonstrated the aircraft’s tremendous maneuverability, turning it into an enormous airbrake to slow down the aircraft as quickly as possible.
Saab J35 Draken’s legacy
Not only was the J35 Draken a high-altitude interceptor, it also proved to be a capable dogfighter. With impressive quick-turn capability and its high speed, the Swedish fighter was twice as capable as other single-engine jets of the same era. The improved J35B model featured an enhanced power plant, an enlarged afterburner, a redesigned rear fuselage and integrated with the air defense control network, STRIL 60.
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While the Cobra Maneuver is now associated with more modern aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-27 and the Mikoyan MiG-29, it’s important to remember where it all began. The J35 Draken took the aviation world by storm and will be remembered as the aircraft that accidentally discovered the maneuver.