Following World War II, the demand for advanced jet fighters increased sharply. During the 1960s, the Saab J35 Draken was still merely a daring vision for Swedish engineers; the idea of a tail-less, double-delta wing aircraft was thrilling but marked a huge leap into unknown territory.
Yet, like a dragon breathing fire, Saab’s engineers tackled this challenge with steadfast resolve—an exceptional effort deserving of the iconic status it has achieved today.
Development of the Saab J35 Draken
The Swedish Air Force, keen not to lag behind in the race for advanced jet fighter technology, began envisioning a supersonic fighter capable of intercepting bombers at high altitudes. A bold idea took root, and the Defence Materiel Administration announced a set of requirements for a state-of-the-art interceptor.
Unlike its contemporary, the US Air Force’s Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, this Nordic creation had a unique role to play; it was to operate from reinforced public roads, a strategy developed by the Swedish Ministry of Defence during the Cold War to protect against potential nuclear threats. It also had to be capable of conducting operations in all weather conditions.
Enter the Saab J35 Draken – the “Nordic Dragon” – which rose to the challenge.
The J35, a testament to innovative design and engineering prowess, was born from a daring decision to embrace the double-delta wing configuration. Despite being untested and potentially fraught with problems, it offered a solution to most critical issues. The delta wing, with its robust structure and large internal volume for fuel storage, seemed promising, albeit drag prone.
In the absence of modern aids like computer-aided testing and flight simulation, the Swedish engineers embarked on a slow and laborious undertaking. After extensive wind tunnel testing and test flights, they built a small but flyable prototype, the Saab 210 – or “Little Dragon.” Performing splendidly on its first flight over Stockholm in January 1952, the Little Dragon breathed life into the J35 Draken.
Saab J35 Draken specs
Engineered for fast flight, the J35 was equipped with a turbojet engine and afterburners, allowing it to surpass Mach 2. Its structure was carefully designed, with a cockpit that provided the pilot with a wide field of view. Outfitted with advanced radar and fire-control systems, it was considered state-of-the-art for its era. The fuselage was divided into front and rear sections, securely fastened together to house various systems.
Regarding weaponry, the J35 primarily carried up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles mounted externally. It also had the capacity to carry a variety of rockets and bombs internally and could be equipped with 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 journey to tame this unpredictable machine, Swedish test pilots uncovered a powerful tool: the Cobra Maneuver. When the J35 Draken fell into an uncontrollable stall at high angles of attack, they found they could regain control by swiftly reducing the angle of attack, countering the stall.
And just like that, they transformed the J35 into its own airbrake, instantly cutting its speed.
With its remarkable speed, range, and intricate systems, the J35 redefined the concept of a “super stall.” The Cobra Maneuver became a demanding showcase of controlled stalling, highlighting the aircraft’s impressive maneuverability and allowing it to act as a massive airbrake, decelerating 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.