advertisement
Saab AB 32B Lansen |
|
|
Name: Lansen 32B
Lansen BackgroundSaab AB Lansen A32A / J32B / S32CLast Revised: June 1, 2004 The initial production version of the Lansen was the tandem-seat "A32A" dedicated attack variant, which entered Flygvapnet service in 1955. By 1957, twelve squadrons had been equipped with the A32A. The A32A was armed with four Swedish-built British Hispano Mark V 20 millimeter cannon fitted in the nose, with 180 rounds per gun. The gun ports were sealed by shutters that popped open automatically when the pilot disengaged the weapon safety. A pair of small plates under the nose prevented the ejected casings from being sucked into the engine intakes. The casings still struck the centerline external fuel tank, and so the nose of the fuel tank was protected by a neoprene plastic shell. There were six stores pylons under each wing, for a total of twelve pylons. Underwing stores included unguided Bofors rockets, ranging from from 60 millimeter practice rockets to 180 millimeter anti-armor rockets, carried in pairs under each pylon for a total of 24 rockets; twelve light or four heavy bombs; or a pair of SAAB RB-04 antiship missiles. The RB-04 was a solid-fuel weapon with a canard configuration, featuring wide wings with wingtip fins. It was one of the first modern antiship missiles, with its own self-contained radar seeker, allowing "fire and forget" operation. However, it was not capable of sea-skimming operation. The Lansen could also carry a chaff pod to blind adversary radars. The Lansen featured a pressurized cockpit with SAAB-designed ejector seats, as well as an uprated RM5A2 engine with a Swedish-designed afterburner. The RM5A2 provided 44.1 kN (4,500 kgp / 9,920 lbf) afterburning thrust. About a fourth of the A32As built were fitted with a French-designed PS-431/A attack radar, built in Sweden under license. A radar-equipped Lansen would lead several other Lansens in performing attacks. Similarly, in operational practice only one aircraft of a group would carry a navigator. The Lansen was an effective strike aircraft, providing a stable platform for cannon and rocket attacks. A total of 287 A32As were delivered from 1955 through 1958, with that number possibly including three P1150s brought up to full production spec. The type remained in service until 1978, when it was replaced by the SAAB 37 Viggen fighter. The A32A was followed in production by the "J32B", a tandem-seat all-weather fighter variant. The initial J32B first flew on 7 January 1957, and the type went into squadron service in July 1958. The J32B was fitted with an uprated Avon Series 200 engine, built under license as the RM6B and also featuring a Swedish-designed afterburner. The RM6B provided 67.6 kN (6,900 kgp / 15,210 lbf) afterburning thrust. The increased airflow required for the new engine led to a slight enlargement of the jet intakes. The four 20 millimeter cannon were replaced by four British Aden 30 millimeter revolver-type cannon. The gun-port shutters were deleted, and the casings were stored rather than ejected. The J32B was guided to a target by Ericsson radar and a SAAB S6 computerized fire-control system. The pilot's control panel featured a radar gunsight display that integrated radar data with inputs from a Hughes AN/AAR-4 infrared search & track (IRST) sensor fitted under the left wing on some J32Bs. The radar gunsight provided indicators to tell the pilot when he had an optimum firing solution. The J32B had four stores pylons, which were initially used to carry two unguided 75 millimeter rocket pods, but from 1960 these pylons were wired to also carry the Rb-324 air-to-air missile (AAM), a license-built Swedish copy of the American Sidewinder AAM. Four Sidewinders, or two Sidewinders and two rocket pods, could be carried. At its peak, seven Flygvapnet squadrons flew the J32B. A total of 118 J32Bs were delivered from 1958 through 1960. Most of the J32Bs were withdrawn from service in the 1970s, though a few would be modified and linger for two decades longer, as is explained in the next section. The third and last production version of the Lansen was the "S32C" dedicated night reconnaissance variant. The S32C was unarmed and featured a modified nose to carry cameras, with at least two different camera suites fitted during the aircraft's operational lifetime. The S32C basically used the airframe of the A32A, and was powered by the A32A's R5M engine. The S32C could carry a chaff dispenser and up to twelve British-built 75 kilogram (165 pound) photoflash bombs. It was fitted with a modified version of the A32A's radar, designated the PS-432/A, for spotting reconnaissance targets. The radar display could be photographed to record intelligence data. The S32C was also fitted with a radar warning receiver. Initial flight of the S32C was on 26 March 1957. 44 were delivered in 1958 and 1959, bringing the total of new-build Lansens to a final sum of 450. The S32C was retired from service in 1978.
DimensionsWing Span: 42.65 ft. / 13.00 M
Power & PerformancePowerplant(s): 1x Svenska Flygmotor RM5A2 (Rolls-Royce Avon 100)
Armament4 x 30mm cannon, 4 x Sidewinder AAMs UsersSweden |
