Sweden - FlightGlobal

PLIGHT Inttrnathnal,
10 June 1965
937
EUROPE 1965; Spain/Sweden . . .
gouvernement d'entreprendre la production nationale des 70
chasseurs F-5 qui ont ete commandes a la societe americaine
\Jorthrop pour un prix, sans equipements, de $47m. La Northrop
retient 24 pour cent des actions du plus important constructeur
espagnole—CASA—qui va entreprendre la construction des F-5A
et F-5B. Les F-5 seront payes entierement en valeurs espagnoles,
et le premier entrera en service chez l'Ejercito del Aire en 1967.
La collaboration entre CASA et Northrop a commence en 1963, et
s'etend a d'autres equipemerus aerospatiaux. La repartition de la
fabrication des pieces entre CASA et Northrop reste encore a
etablir.
L'industrie espagnole a une forte activite dans le domaine de
revision, reparation et modification de la large gamme d'avions
encore en service chez les armees, qui s'etend des Heinkel Hel 11 et
MelO9 equipes de Merlin, des Junkers Ju52 et Dornier Do24 et
Do27 jusqu'aux F-86, T-33 et autres avions americains fournis a
titre du MAP. Les societes ont une juste reputation pour les revisions
IRAN des avions d'attaque les plus modernes de l'USAF.
Sweden
WEDEN is remarkable in that for a country having only
7.5m population, it continues to rely on its own aircraft
S
industry as the primary source of procurement for its armed forces.
This policy was recently endorsed by the Swedish Government
decision to go ahead with the development and production of the
new System 37 advanced strike-reconnaissance fighter, which will
involve the eventual expenditure of the equivalent of some £572m.
The System 37, or Viggen programme is therefore not far short
in magnitude of Britain's cancelled TSR.2 project, with the
difference that the Swedish expenditure is planned to cover a far
greater number of aircraft, amounting to about 800 in all. The
TSR.2, in fact, was one of several aircraft evaluated by the Royal
Swedish Air Force, which also looked at the TFX, Phantom and
Northrop F-5, among other types, before deciding that the Viggen
was best-suited to its requirements for the necessary expenditure.
Except for its RM8 powerplant, derived from the Pratt &
Whitney JT8D-1 turbofan, the Viggen airframe and equipment are
almost 100 per cent Swedish in origin and design, which places the
national aircraft industry as one of the most efficient for its size in
Europe. Even the basic American engine has been extensively
modified for its new supersonic application, apart from the fact
that the RM8 uses an afterburner section completely designed,
developed and built in Sweden. The attack radar in the Viggen is a
sophisticated design produced by the Ericsson company based on
solid-state components, with semi-automatic control for low-level
high-speed operation, and including provisions for "head-up"
display.
Initial orders for the Viggen have been announced for 220 aircraft, with delivery dates postponed from 1969 to 1971. The RM8
engine programme is continuing according to schedule, with six
prototype units being tested in new facilities costing SKrl7m
(about £1.17m). With its Flygmotor afterburner, the RM8 gives a
maximum thrust of 26,0001b compared with 14,0001b from the
basic JT8D-1. The prototype Viggen is due to fly in 1967-68, and
the AJ37 attack-fighter version will enter service in 1970 to replace
the A32 Lansen. The JA37 interceptor/ground attack Viggen will
become operational to replace the Draken in the mid-1970s, and
other European countries are now showing interest in purchasing
this new Swedish aircraft. Current estimates for the unit cost of the
Viggen are a remarkably low £715,000, including just over £290,000
for the airframe, about £113,500 for the engine, some £143,000 for
the avionics, and the remainder on development.
As the sole main aircraft company in Sweden, Saab (which is
privately owned by some 10,000 Swedish shareholders) has been
given responsibility as prime contractor for System 37 development.
Saab also developed as a private venture the 105 two-seat light jet
for training and ground attack ,and is now working on a production
order for the RSAF. First deliveries of the 130 Saab 105s on order
are planned before the end of this year.
Saab recently increased its aerospace interests by agreements with
international electronics organizations. The company has also
joined with ASEA (Allmana Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget) to
form the Swedish Space Consortium, in order to co-ordinate the
member companies' activities for relations with ESRO. Group
turnover for 1964 was SKrl,106m (about £76.25m) and although
much of this was accounted for by SAAB's other industrial interests, including car production, aero sales remain a substantial
part of the total. Its electronic products include the S6 fire control
system for early Draken and Lansen interceptors, the S7 for later
Drakens, a miniaturized central digital computer in the Viggen,
and the BT9 bombing computer for Lansen, Hunters, and other
types. The Viggen programme alone is expected to keep approximately 10,000 people employed in the Swedish aerospace programme for a considerable number of years.
•A Suede est remarquable par le fait que, bien que sa popula• • tion ne depasse pas 7,500,000, elle se fie encore a son
industrie nationale en tant que fournisseur principal de ses forces
armees. Cette politique a ete confirmee recemment par la decision
du gouvernement suedois de confirmer le developpement et la
construction en serie du nouveau Systeme 37, avion d'attaque et
de reconnaissance, qui demandera une depense globale d'a peu
pres £572m.
Le programme du Systeme 37, appele Viggen, est d'une importance comparable a celui du TSR.2 anglais qui vient d'&tre annule,
mais la depense su6doise procurera un plus grand nombre d'avions,
qui atteindra peut-etre 800. Le TSR.2 figura en effet parmi plusieurs
avions evalues par Parmee de 1'air suedoise, qui a considere
egalement, entre autres, le TFX, Phantom et Northrop F-5, avant
de prendre la decision que le Viggen repondait le mieux a ses
besoins dans les limites financieres.
A part son reacteur RM8, derive de la turbine a double flux
Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1, la cellule et les equipements du Viggen
ont une origine presque cent pour cent suedoise, ce qui implique
que l'industrie nationale est une des plus rentables en Europe par
rapport a sa grandeur. Meme le reacteur americain a et6 largement
developpe pour son r61e supersonique, et a ete equipe d'une
tuyere de postcombustion etudiee et fabriquee entierement en
Suede. Le radar d'attaque du Viggen represente la toute derniere
technique et a ete realises par la societe Ericsson. II utilise les
semi-conducteurs, permet le controle semi-automatique du vol a
basse altitude et a grande vitesse, et peut etre muni d'une visualisation en ligne de vue.
La premiere commande de Viggen annoncee est de 220 avions,
dont la livraison a ete renvoyee de 1969 a 1971. Le developpement
du reacteur RM8 respecte les delais prevus, et six prototypes
MANUFACTURERS
Declared capital
shareholders
Mai' * f t M a l m 5 ^irxindustri, Bulltofta Flygplati,
Kr. 500,000
(£34,500 app)
SAAB, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, Linkoping
Kr96m
(£6.62m)
FLYGMOTOR, Svenska Flygmoter AB, Trollhattan
BEFAB, Bergs Fabriks AB, Norrkoping 3
6
°FORS. AB Bofors, Bofors
r ( k N i ( M i l i t a r v Electronics Division), Telektiebolaget L. M. Ericsson. Stockholm 32
Personnel
8,000 app
(private)
Kr. 25m
(£l.72m)
Kr. 500,000
(£34/500 app)
Kr. 110m
(£7.58m app)
Kr. 217.5m
(£l5m app)
1,500 aviation
Main activities
Production: MFI Junior, MFI-10 Vipan. Product*: aircraft and
missile components, glass-fibre reinforced plastics, sandwich
construction, overhauls
Production: Safir, Draken, Saab-105. Development: Viggen
Overhaul and modification: Safir, Draken, Lansen etc Products: electronics, Rb 27, Rb 28, SAAB 305, SAAB M20 (08)
missiles, ejection seats, hovercraft
Production: RM6A, B, C Avon. Development: RM.8 (JT8D-22)
rocket motors, ramjets
Runway safety barriers, airfield ground equipment, survival
equipment
Armament, missiles, explosives, chemicals
Telecommunications, radar, ECM, head-up display for Viggen