urbanf@yj.data.nokia.fi (Urban Fredriksson) (06/11/91)
From: urbanf@yj.data.nokia.fi (Urban Fredriksson) SWEDEN'S NUCLEAR BOMBER (that never was) or A 36, the 'missing' aircraft between 35 and 37 In issue 4/1991 of the magazine Flygrevyn there is an article the Saab project 1300, which later were given the Air Force designation A 36, although it was never built. In the late 1940's work was started on getting Sweden nuclear weapons, which studies showed would be technically and economically feasible. In 1952 Saab started designing an aircraft with long range, large weapon load and high speed as 'Project 1300'. It was equipped with a single seat, straight delta wing with 62 degrees sweepback, chin intake and internal weapon bay. (The latter _only_ because of concerns about accidental detonation due to the high temperatures air friction would cause.) Primary weapon would be a 600-800 kg free fall nuclear weapon. Length: 17 m Span: 9,6 m Wing area: 54 square meters Empty weight: 9000 kg Max load: 1500 kg Fuel: 4000 kg Max take off weight: 15000 kg Engine: Bristol Olympus Thrust/weight ratio (take off): 0,73 Max speed: Mach 2,14 above 11 km; mach 1,2 at low altitude Radius of action: 410 km Ceiling: 18 km Take off run: 490 m The project was cancelled in 1957 and all resources concentrated on Viggen. However, it wasn't until 1966 parliament finally decided Sweden wasn't going to get nuclear weapons. (In practice the question was 'dead' several years before that, but design work on nuclear weapons continued into _at least_ the middle 1970's.) Urban Fredriksson, Stockholm, Sweden // I speak ONLY for myself! urban@kista.relay.nokia.fi "A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind."