FACTS ABOUT SAAB

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000700900002-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: REPORT

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the United Str>ins - _f 1h42 espionajc laws
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1930. An Aircraft Division is formed at AB Svenska Jarnvagsverkstaderna (ASJA),
which immediately begins designing aircraft, the first one being a three-seat touring,
aircraft, the Viking, and the second one a two-seat military trainer and general pur- -
pose aircraft, known as the 0 9.
1932. ASJA takes over the activities of Svenska Aero AB of Stockholm-Lidingo, while
at the same time an order is received from the Swedish Air Force for a batch of the
German Raab-Katzenstein Tigerschwalbe (Air Force designation: SK 10), primary
trainer, to be built under licence.
1934. The Air Force orders a production quantity of the Jaktfalken single-seat fighter
(AF designation: J 6), originally designed by Svenska Aero. The Jaktfalkcn was
an excellent fighter for its time with a top speed of about 200 mph (320 km/h).
Simultaneously, the prototype of a new four-seat touring aircraft, the Viking II,
is test flown.
1935. Production under licence of the British de Havilland Tiger Moth (AF designation:
Sk 11) trainer begins for the Swedish Air Force.
1936. Parliament decides that the strength of Sweden's defence, including the Air Force,
shall be considerably increased. ASJA is asked wheter its Aircraft Division can be
expanded, and an affirmative reply is given. At the same time also other Swedish
industrial circles - among which the so-called Bofors Group - are asked if they
arc willing to establish a new aircraft factory.
ASJA starts manufacture under licence of the British Hawker Hart (AF designa-
tion: B 4) dive-bomber powered by a Swedish-built Bristol Mercury engine.
1937. The requested expansion of ASJA gets under way. The Government's endeavours
to interest the Bofors Group in starting a new aircraft factory results in the foun-
dation of Svenska Acroplan Aktiebolaget, Saab, at Trollhattan. Saab's initial
share capital is set at Sw. Cr. 4,000,000.
A design and sales company, AB Forcnade Flygverkstader is formed in Stockholm
jointly by ASJA and Saab, and all Air Force orders received by this company are
divided between ASJA and Saab.
ASJA starts licence production of the German Focke-Wulf Stieglitz (Sk 12) trainer
for the Air Force.
1938. Saab's share capital is increased to Sw. Cr. 8,000,000. Saab starts production under
licence of a series of German Junkers Ju 86K (B 3) twin-engined medium bombers.
This aircraft marks the beginning of all-metal monocoque construction in Sweden.
ASJA starts licence production of the U. S. North American NA-16-4 (Sk 14)
advanced trainer.
Design work commences at Forcnade Flygverkstader on a new single-engined re-
connaissance aircraft.
1939. Saab takes over ASJA's activities, and at the same time work ceases at Forenade
Flygverkstader, which, however, still exists in name.
In connection with this expansion, Saab's capital is increased to Sw. Cr. 13,000,000.
Saab now operates factories both at Trollhattan and Linkoping, but with its design
and administration offices situated at Linkoping.
Design work starts on a new twin-engined dive-bomber and long range reconnais-
sance aircraft.
Air Force orders production under licence of the U. S. Northrop 8A-1 (B 5) dive-
bomber powered by a Swedish-built Bristol Mercury engine of 980 h.p.
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1940. Saab's capital is increased. to Sw. Cr. 17,000,000. The company's first own design
the Saab-17 dive-bomber and. reconnaissance aircraft is successfully test flown. An
all-metal design, the Saab-17 (B 17 and S 17) is available both with wheel-, ski- and
float undercarriage, the former two retractable.
1941. Saab further expands its factories, and at the same time its capital is again increa-
sed to Sw. Cr. 21,000,000.
Design work starts on an unconventional single-seat pusher fighter.
The Saab-17 reaches squadron service with the Swedish Air Force. The aircraft
is produced with different engine installations, the most powerful of which is the
Flygmotor-built P & W Twin Wasp, which gives the aircraft a top speed. of about
270 mph (435 km/h).
1942. Saab's twin-engined medium dive-bomber and long range reconnaissance aircraft,
the Saab-18 (B 18 and S 18) makes its first flight. The aircraft is powered by two
1,065 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engines built by Svenska Flyg-
motor AB at Trollhattan. Top speed is 290 mph (465 km/h).
1943. Saab's pusher fighter, the Saab-21, makes its first flight. The unconventional layout
of this aircraft with the engine behind the pilot allows a better forward view for
the, pilot, concentration of armament to the nose, and makes possible installation
of a tricycle landing gear, which is also adopted for all later designs. The 400 mph
(640 km/h) fighter, the Saab-21 (J 21) is powered by a 1,475 h.p. Daimler-Benz
DB 605B in-line engine produced under licence by Svenska Flygmotor, and is also
one of the world's first aircraft fitted with a pilot's ejection seat.
First production Saab-18 is delivered to the Air Force.
Saab's Trollhattan factory is expanded.
1944. A new and more powerful version of the Saab-18, the Saab-18 B (B 18 B) is test
flown. Differing from its predecessor in having two 1,475 h.p. Daimler Benz
engines, the aircraft has a top speed of 355 mph (575 km/h).
Design work starts on two civil aircraft, a twin-engined. transport and a three-
seat lightplane.
Saab undertakes conversion for ABA and SILA of a number of U.S. Boeing B-17
Flying Fortresses into stop-gap airliners.
1945. The Saab-91 Safir, a thee-seat all-metal lightplane with retractable landing gear,
makes its first flight. The production aircraft is powered by a 147 h.p. D. H. Gipsy
Major four-cyl. in-line engine.
First production Saab-21 is test flown.
The second major modification of the Saab-18 series makes its first flight. Designa-
ted the T 18 B, the new version has the same power plants as the Saab-18B. Later,
this series has been modified to take a 57 m.m. heavy-calibre cannon in addition
to its original cannon armament.
Design work starts on a jet-propelled development of the Saab-21 pusher fighter.
A bomb-proof underground factory is ready for use at Linkoping.
The existence of a sensational Saab-designed bomb-sight is revealed..
1946. The Saab-90 Scandia, a twin-engined medium transport originally designed. to
accommodate 24-32 passengers, makes its first flight. The prototype is equipped
with two Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp engines of 1,450 h.p. each.
A new high-performance jet fighter reaches its design stage.
The first prototype of a small private car is completed.
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1947. Sweden's first jet fighter, the Saab-21 R (J 21 R) i,s successfully test-flown. The
aircraft is a development of the Saab-21 pusher fighter with a Swedish-built
D. H. Goblin jet unit replacing its piston engine.
In order to increase the speed and payload of the Scandia, it is decided to re-design
the production model to take two 1,800 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-2180 Twin Wasp
engines in place of the earlier R-2000s.
1948. The first of three Saab-29 (J 29) swept-wing jet fighter prototypes makes its first
flight. Powered by a D. H. Ghost jet engine (Swedish-built in the production
model), the aircraft has a design top speed of 650 mph (1,050 km/h) plus (Mach
0.86). During subsequent tests this speed is exceeded under full control.
An order for ten Scandia airliners is placed by ABA, Swedish Section of SAS.
The Air Force decides to equip all aircraft of the Saab-18 B series with ejection seats
for the pilot and radio operator.
1949. The first production-type Scandia is test flown.
Saab enters the automobile market with the Saab-92, a four-seat private car powered
by a 25 h.p. two-stroke engine of Saab's own design. The safety factor is high
owing to the steel body which is welded to a self-supporting unit.
The first production-type Saab-21R is test flown.
1950. Further Scandias are ordered by two Brazilian airline companies.
The Scandia enters scheduled airline service.
Further expansion under way at the Trollhattan Division, while at the same time
a factory is purchased at Jonkoping, some 80 miles (130 km) from the main
etablishment at Linkoping. The factory produces apparatus, and special equipment.
Saab's private airfield at Tannefors, Linkoping, is equipped with a new concrete
runway for a cost of Sw. Cr. 2,500,000.
1951. The first of a large series of Saab-29 swept-wing jet fighters are delivered to the
Royal Swedish Air Force.
The Swedish Air Force adopts a new and more powerful Safir version, the Saab
91B, (AF designation Sk 50) as its new standard primary trainer. Because of heavy
military commitments, Saab sub-contracts Safir production to the Dutch De Schelde
factory at Dordrecht, near Rotterdam.
The first Swedish delta-wing aircraft, the experimental Saab-210, makes its initial
test flight.
In its annual report for the 1950-51 fiscal year, the Saab Aircraft Company
reports a net profit of Cr. 1,212,000 as compared to a profit of Cr. 831,773 for
the preceding year.
1952. A unique transonic wind tunnel driven by four jet engines is completed in Lin-
koping. It is intended for research at speeds up to Mach 1.4.
In addition to being produced in large quantities for the day-fighter units, the
Saab-29 is ordered also for attack wings of the Swedish Air Force.
The Saab airfield at Linkoping is further expanded for a cost of Cr. 1,200,000.
New export orders are received for the Saab-90 Scandia twin-engined airliner.
Production is sub-contracted to the well-known Dutch Fokker factory in
Amsterdam.
The First Dc Schelde-built Safirs of the new series are delivered.
New assembly plant expansion for a cost of nearly Cr. 4,000,000 gets under way in
Linkoping.
Saab reports a net profit of Cr. 1,950,000 for the 1951-52 fiscal year.
The Saab-32, a new two-seat all-weather jet attack aircraft makes its first test
flight. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Avon jet engine, the aircraft has a top speed
in the region of 700 mph (over 1,100 km/h).
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