Saab J 32 Lansen

The Saab J 32 Lansen was a Swedish twin‑engine, jet‑propelled attack and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service in the early 1950s. Developed by Saab Group as a successor to the piston‑engine S 18, the Lansen first flew on 3 November 1952 and was introduced to the Swedish Air Force in 1955. Its design featured a shoulder‑mounted wing, a single‑seat cockpit with bubble canopy, and two Svenska Flygmotor RM2A (later RM5) turbojets delivering 5,500 lbf each, giving a top speed of about 1,060 km/h. Equipped with advanced avionics for its time—such as a radar altimeter, navigation radar and a side‑looking attack radar—the Lansen could perform ground‑attack, maritime strike, and photo‑reconnaissance missions. It carried a mixed armament of 20 mm cannon, rockets, and bombs, and later versions were fitted with anti‑ship missiles. Production ran from 1954 to 1960, with 282 airframes built. The aircraft’s versatility and reliability helped Sweden maintain a credible independent defence during the Cold War, and it set the technical foundation for later Saab jets like the AJ 37 Viggen. The Lansen remains a symbol of Sweden’s innovative aerospace engineering. Its legacy continues to influence modern Swedish fighter design and is celebrated in several air museums worldwide.

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