Saab 21

The Saab 21 was a pioneering Swedish fighter‑bomber developed by Saab Group in the early 1940s. Conceived as a response to the need for an indigenous high‑performance combat aircraft, its design was ordered in 1938 and the prototype first flew on 1 October 1943. Unusual for its time, the Saab 21 featured a twin‑boom, pusher‑propeller layout with the engine mounted behind the pilot, giving the aircraft a clean nose for improved visibility and armament placement. Powered initially by a Hispano‑Suiza 12Z radial engine, later versions received a more powerful Daimler‑Behring DB 605A, allowing speeds over 650 km/h and a service ceiling of 11,500 meters. In the late 1940s the airframe was converted to jet propulsion, becoming the Saab 21R, the world’s first operational jet fighter derived from a piston‑engine design. Over 250 units served the Swedish Air Force, performing interception, ground‑attack, and reconnaissance missions throughout the Cold War. The Saab 21 demonstrated innovative engineering, proved the viability of indigenous Swedish aircraft production, and paved the way for later successes such as the Saab 35 Draken and Saab 37 Viggen, cementing Saab’s reputation in modern military aviation.

Saab Group

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification