Saab

Building an independent Swedish aircraft industry

Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, shortened to Saab, was incorporated on 2 April 1937 in Trollhättan. The company was created in response to Sweden’s need for an independent domestic aircraft industry during a period of increasing political tension in Europe. Its original mission was to develop and manufacture military aircraft for the Swedish Air Force.

Aircraft development later became centred in Linköping, which remains Saab’s principal aeronautical location. Saab’s corporate headquarters are in Stockholm, while the modern company operates across defence, security, sensors, naval systems and aeronautics.

The early military years, 1937–1945

During the Second World War, Saab rapidly expanded its engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Its earliest major original aircraft included the Saab 17, an all-metal single-engine bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, and the twin-engine Saab 18 bomber. These programmes helped establish Sweden’s ability to design and manufacture modern military aircraft domestically.

Saab also participated in licensed and inherited production during its formative years. The company’s early activities were closely connected with ASJA and with Swedish production of types such as the Junkers Ju 86, while Saab’s own design organisation developed increasingly independent solutions.

Entering the jet age

After the war, Saab became one of Europe’s important pioneers in jet-aircraft development. The Saab 29 Tunnan first flew in 1948 and became one of the earliest operational European fighters with a swept wing. Its compact fuselage and distinctive shape earned it the Swedish nickname “Tunnan” — the barrel. The aircraft demonstrated Sweden's ability to design and manufacture world-class swept-wing jet fighters independently, laying the technological foundation for the later Lansen, Draken and Viggen programmes.

The Saab 32 Lansen followed as a larger, versatile aircraft for attack, reconnaissance and all-weather interception. Saab then produced the remarkable Saab 35 Draken, whose double-delta wing allowed high-speed performance while preserving acceptable low-speed handling. Its innovative aerodynamic configuration influenced later delta-wing research and established Saab as one of the world's leading designers of advanced combat aircraft during the Cold War.

The Draken first flew in 1955, reached approximately Mach 2 and served with Sweden as well as Denmark, Finland and Austria. Draken's configuration emerged from extensive aerodynamic research, including the small Saab 210 Lilldraken test aircraft.

The Saab 37 Viggen introduced one of the world's first successful operational close-coupled canard-delta configurations. Its fixed foreplanes generated powerful vortices that increased lift over the main delta wing at high angles of attack, improving manoeuvrability while reducing take-off and landing distances. Combined with the Viggen's thrust reverser, the canard layout enabled exceptional short-field performance and made the aircraft ideally suited to Sweden's dispersed road-base defence doctrine.

Civil aviation after the Second World War

As wartime demand declined, Saab diversified into civil aviation. The Saab 91 Safir, which first flew in 1945, became a successful trainer and touring aircraft used by both military and civilian operators. Saab also built the larger Saab 90 Scandia airliner, although only a small production run was completed. Although neither programme achieved large commercial success, the Safir established Saab as a respected manufacturer of light aircraft, while the Scandia demonstrated the company's ability to design and produce modern pressurized airliners, providing valuable engineering experience that later contributed to the Saab 340 and Saab 2000 regional airliners.

Saab later became associated with the MFI-15 Safari and MFI-17 Supporter light-training family. These aircraft originated with Malmö Flygindustri and entered Saab’s broader aviation lineage after the companies became connected. Their outstanding visibility, low operating costs and rugged design made them highly effective elementary trainers, while the MFI-17 also became the foundation of Pakistan's indigenous Mushshak programme, extending the design's influence far beyond Sweden.

During the late 1970s and 1980s, Saab entered the regional-airliner market. The Saab-Fairchild 340 was initially developed jointly with Fairchild Aircraft. Saab later assumed full responsibility, and the aircraft became the Saab 340. It entered airline service in 1984 and developed into one of the most successful 30-seat commuter turboprops.

The larger Saab 2000 first flew in 1992. It combined a stretched 50-seat-class cabin with powerful Rolls-Royce Allison turboprops and a high cruising speed. Although technically advanced, it reached the market as airlines were increasingly selecting regional jets. Production ended after 63 aircraft.

Saab withdrew from new civil-airliner production after the Saab 2000, but it has continued to support the Saab 340 and Saab 2000 fleets. Both airframes also became useful platforms for cargo, maritime patrol, special missions and airborne surveillance. Their exceptional reliability, fuel efficiency and adaptable airframes ensured that both aircraft families remained valuable long after passenger services declined, extending Saab's influence into military, governmental and specialised aviation worldwide.

Advanced military aviation

The Saab 37 Viggen first flew in 1967 and introduced a distinctive canard-delta configuration. It incorporated advanced digital avionics, short-field capability and thrust reversing that supported operations from Sweden’s dispersed road-base network. Attack, fighter, reconnaissance and training variants were produced.

Development of the JAS 39 Gripen began to replace several earlier Swedish combat-aircraft types with one multirole platform. “JAS” abbreviates the Swedish words for fighter, attack and reconnaissance. The first Gripen flew in 1988, and the aircraft entered Swedish service during the 1990s. Gripen combined relaxed aerodynamic stability, digital fly-by-wire control, modular avionics and comparatively low operating requirements. The Gripen A/B generation was followed by the NATO-compatible Gripen C/D and the substantially redesigned Gripen E/F series.

The current Gripen E series incorporates a larger airframe, new engine, increased fuel capacity, updated sensors, advanced electronic warfare and a new avionics architecture. Sweden and Brazil are central to the programme, with industrial participation and production established in both countries.

Corporate transformation

In 1969 Saab merged with Scania-Vabis to form Saab-Scania. The group combined aircraft, automotive and commercial-vehicle activities. During the 1990s these businesses were separated, and Saab returned its focus to defence, aerospace electronics and security technology. This restructuring marked Saab's transition from a diversified industrial conglomerate into a specialised high-technology defence and aerospace company with an increasingly international focus.

Later acquisitions and combinations expanded Saab into radar, electronic warfare, missiles, command systems and naval technology. The defence company and the former Saab automobile business therefore share historical roots but are no longer the same enterprise.

Modern aerospace activities

Modern Saab aviation extends beyond complete Swedish-designed aircraft. The company develops Gripen E/F, Erieye radar systems and GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft. GlobalEye combines Saab sensors and mission systems with the Bombardier Global 6500 business-jet platform.

Saab is also Boeing’s principal development and production partner on the T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer. Saab designed and produces the aft fuselage section and contributes to the aircraft’s engineering and industrial system.

Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft continue to support specialised missions. The Saab 2000 Erieye integrates an airborne early-warning radar with the fast regional turboprop platform, while Saab 340 variants have served in maritime surveillance, early warning and military transport roles.

Since 1937 Saab has developed a distinctive sequence of aircraft ranging from piston-engined trainers and bombers to supersonic fighters and regional airliners. Although the company no longer builds civil airliners, its influence continues through Gripen, airborne-surveillance systems, aerostructures, avionics and international military-aircraft programmes.

Saab aviation timeline

Saab civil-aircraft families

Post-war airliner

Saab 90 Scandia

A twin-engine short- and medium-range passenger airliner designed during the 1940s.

Production: 18 aircraft
Historical programme

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Trainer and touring aircraft

Saab 91 Safir

A piston-engined trainer and touring aircraft used by numerous civil and military operators.

Production: 323 aircraft
Historical programme

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Light trainer

MFI-15 Safari and MFI-17 Supporter

A distinctive light-aircraft family developed by Malmö Flygindustri and later associated with Saab.

Role: training and utility
Heritage family

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Regional turboprop

Saab 340

A 30- to 36-seat commuter aircraft developed initially with Fairchild and later produced entirely by Saab.

Production: 459 aircraft
Fleet support continues

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High-speed regional turboprop

Saab 2000

A stretched, more powerful regional aircraft capable of jet-like cruise speeds.

Production: 63 aircraft
Fleet support continues

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Saab military-aircraft families

Wartime bomber

Saab 17

Single-engine bomber and reconnaissance aircraft with interchangeable landing-gear arrangements.

Production: 323 aircraft

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Twin-engine bomber

Saab 18

A bomber, reconnaissance and attack family developed during the Second World War.

Production: 245 aircraft

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Pusher fighter

Saab 21

An unconventional twin-boom fighter and attack aircraft with a rear-mounted piston engine.

Production: 298 aircraft

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Jet conversion

Saab 21R

A turbojet development of the Saab 21 and one of the few successful piston-to-jet fighter conversions.

Production: 64 aircraft

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Swept-wing fighter

Saab 29 Tunnan

A compact early jet fighter used in fighter, attack and reconnaissance roles.

Production: 661 aircraft

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All-weather combat aircraft

Saab 32 Lansen

A two-seat attack, reconnaissance and interception platform.

Production: 450 aircraft

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Double-delta fighter

Saab 35 Draken

A Mach 2 interceptor with a distinctive double-delta wing and a long international career.

Production: 644 aircraft

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Canard-delta system

Saab 37 Viggen

A multirole family optimised for dispersed road-base operations and rapid servicing.

Production: 329 aircraft

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Multirole fighter

JAS 39 Gripen

A compact digital fighter family spanning Gripen A/B, C/D and the current E/F generation.

Status: active production and development

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Twin-engine trainer

Saab 105

A military trainer and light-attack aircraft also exported to Austria.

Production: 192 aircraft

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Aerodynamic demonstrator

Saab 210 Lilldraken

A small research aircraft used to validate the Draken’s double-delta configuration.

Production: one aircraft

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Airborne-surveillance and special-mission aircraft

Saab 340 platform

Saab 340 AEW

Saab 340 airframes adapted for airborne early warning, surveillance, maritime patrol and military transport.

Systems: Erieye and mission-specific installations

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Fast turboprop AEW&C

Saab 2000 Erieye

The Saab 2000 combined with Erieye radar and command-and-control systems for long-range surveillance.

Role: airborne early warning and control

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Multi-domain AEW&C

GlobalEye

A Saab sensor and mission-system suite installed on the Bombardier Global 6500 long-range business jet.

Status: current Saab programme

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International aircraft collaboration

Advanced trainer

Boeing–Saab T-7A Red Hawk

An all-new advanced training aircraft developed jointly for the United States Air Force.

Saab role: design, engineering and aft-fuselage production

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Brazilian industrial partnership

Gripen E/F in Brazil

Technology transfer, local engineering and Brazilian production form a major part of the Gripen E/F programme.

Partners: Saab, Embraer and Brazilian industry

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Regional-airliner cooperation

Saab-Fairchild 340

The original Saab 340 programme began as a transatlantic industrial partnership before Saab assumed full responsibility.

Original name: SF340

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How the Saab aircraft families connect

Saab aircraft detected by howmany.travel

howmany.travel connects Saab aircraft history with individual airframes identified through Mode S, ADS-B and related radio transmissions. Civil Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft are the most common Saab-built types in civilian tracking data, while military Saab aircraft may transmit intermittently or use operational identities that cannot always be mapped publicly.

Saab aircraft models

Each model name links to the corresponding howmany.travel family page. Completed programmes are identified separately from active production, development and continuing fleet-support activities.

Historical aircraft models

Modern and current aircraft models

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Editorial notes

• Saab’s official history confirms that the company was founded on 2 April 1937 to develop and manufacture combat aircraft.
• Current Saab product material identifies Gripen E, GlobalEye and the T-7A partnership as active aviation programmes.
• Completed production totals are distinguished from active programmes, for which no final “number built” is stated.
• howmany.travel is independent of Saab AB.

For model pages, “Saab” is preferable in normal prose. The historical acronym “SAAB” can be retained when discussing the original company name or where it appears in contemporary markings and records.