SAAB Aktiebolag, or the SAAB Aircraft Company - as this company is better
known internationally - has played a leading role in the Swedish aeronautical
industry ever since before World War II Today its responsibility has grown
even bigger as the company in 1962 was appointed prime contractor for the
biggest defence project - Svstem 37 - ever undertaken in Sweden. As prime
contractor for this new weapons system. SAAB has taken over a major part of
the technical coordination and procurement work previously carried out by the
Air Force itself. This new manned weapons system alone is expected to keep
approx. 10000 people in the aviation industry busy for a considerable number
of years
SAAB is today also an important automobile manufacturer with substantial exports, and the company is also very active in the field of computers, both general purpose equipment and special computers for advanced military application.
Aircraft
Today, the company's production lines are filled by the SAAB 35 Draken super-sonic jet fighter whih is being produced in very large numbers for the Swedish Air Force. Since 1960, the company has delivered the Draken in no fewer than six different versions, including the J35A, J35B, J35D and J35F all weather interceptor/attack versions, the SK35 two-seat trainer version and the S35E photo-reconnaissance version. Of these the J35F is the latest and most important since it represents what is described by the Swedish Air Force as the most modern fighter interception system in Europe.
The Swedish Air Force has a total of 550 Draken aircraft on order with production scheduled to continue until 1970.
As mentioned initially, SAAB is main contractor for the new combat aircraft included in the Weapons System 37. This will be a multi-mission aircraft. known as the SAAB 37 Viggen. It has been designed as a standard flying platform for three different combat roles. The Viggen will have STOL peformance by employing a very advanced aerodynamic confiauration usina a nose wing with flap blowing in combination with a delta wing A special feature of the aircraft will be its central digital computer.
The first version of the Viggen to go into service will be the AJ37 all-weather attack version which is intended to start replacing the present r32A Lansen all-weather attack system ln 1471. The efficient power plant - a Swedish supersonic development of the Pratt & Whitney JT8D by-pass engine with a bio Swedish afterburner and thrust reverser will feature both high thrust and good operatino economy at low altitude.
In addition to the Draken production, the company is in large-scale production of its new twin--jet trainer, light attack and liaison aircraft, the SAAB 105 Developed as a private venture, the SAAB 105 is now the object of a Swedish Air Force order for 150 aircraft.
SAAB has had considerable trainer experience before entering the jet trainer field. During a long period of years, the company has produced several series of the SAAB 91 Safir piston-engined trainers. Now, standard trainer with air forces of 6 nations and several airline pilot training schools in three countries, the Safir has become a very popular aircraft of unique training value in relation to cost.
Guided missiles
SAAB is not only responsible for the Swedish manned weapons systems The company is also prime contractor for several tyPes of ouided missiles, including two versions of the Huges Falcon, RB 27 with radar homing and RB 28 with IR homing. Both types of Falcon are needed in order to provide effective air defense under all weather conditions. In addition to the Falcon programme, the company is responsible for development of a new air to surface uided missile the SAr 305, for the new System 37 and the SAA13 105 attach version. A third missile programme is the RbO8 ship-to--ship and coast defence missile system for which SAAB is now responsible for final development and quantity production on behalf of the Swedish Navy. The Rb 08 is a development of the French Nord cr 20 target missile.
Electronics
Another SAAB field is military and civil electronics. he ain products are computers for airborne military purposes as well as computers for scientific and industrial/commercial data processing. Included in the rane of military products are the S7 fire control system for later Draken versions, the miniatyrized central digital computer in the Viggen, the BT9 bombing computer used in the Lansen attack version and several foreign types of attack aircraft. rhe civil electronic programme includes the D21 eneral purpose computer now being successfully marketed. In addition, SAAB produces in quantity machine tool control systems.
Motor cars
A very major role played by SAAB is that of a passenger car manufacturer. SAABs automobile production has in little more than a decade grown to substantial scale and importance not only for the company but for the country as a whole, as SAAB also exports its cars to nearly 50 countries.
SAAB currently produces nearly 50,000 cars per year and further production increases are being planned.
Empoyment
Today the employments in the SAAB group of companies amount to approximately 15,000 persons distributed as follows:
Linkoping (head office military products development and
production) 7,000
Jonkoping +
Stensholm (airborne and special equipment) 900
Trollhattan (motor cars, jet engine parts) 3,000
Gothenburg (car engines and special military electronics
development laboratory) 1,000
Nykoping (the SAAB car sales organization for Sweden
and Chrysler and Massey-Ferguson products sale) 2,500
Sodertalje (precision tools) 138
Stockholm (technical, liaison and sales office) 53
London (car sales and purchasing) 36
New York (+ New Haven, Conn, USA) (car sales and purchasing) 130
Facilities
SAAB today possesses covered factory and office area exceedin 500,000 suare meters.
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