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So we all know that Saab makes some real world class aircraft. But have any ever been used in combat? I can't seem to find a single reference to Saab aircraft ever being used in combat.
Saab aircraft
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I saw one in a car commercial once...
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I think their J-29 Tunnan was used in some UN peacekeeping effort somewhere. You might want to start there if you want to research it further.
But otherwise, not that I can think of offhand. But isn't that the most effective weapon--one that never has to be used?
But otherwise, not that I can think of offhand. But isn't that the most effective weapon--one that never has to be used?
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Well, the Viggen was the only aircraft to ever get missile lock on an SR-71, and the Tunnan saw combat in Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_29_Tunnan#Combat_service_in_Africa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_29_Tunnan#Combat_service_in_Africa
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Ah, the SR-71...
"Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil. For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing."
"Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil. For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing."
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Well then, we need to buy a whole chit-load of Saab aircraft!!!
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Under any circumstances that's impressive. That tells me the Viggen had one really bad ass radar.
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It had a LOT of Ground Controlled Intercept help, too.
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Oh I'm sure it did, because it had to be precisely in the right place at the right time. But it had to have one impressive onboard radar to cut through all the jamming, because the SR71's jamming was absolutely state of the art.It had a LOT of Ground Controlled Intercept help, too.
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Kevin, if memory serves the Swedish GCI system locks from the ground, all the Viggen pilot is is a glorified flying spear-chucker.
Better than an F-106 jock in GCI... on the Six with SAGE, all you're really there to do is land the plane or act as a backup guidance and fire-control system--and oh by the way, hope things don't get desperate because if you and your buddies' missiles don't knock down enough of the bombers SAGE tactics and doctrine include an option to start using the planes as Kamikaze SAMs whether you have a chance to bail out or not. (Source: multiple F-106 pilots and groundcrewmen, including a prof who used to command a squadron of 'em and my grandfather who slung wrenches on 'em with a squadron deployed to Korea in response to the Pueblo Incident.)
Better than an F-106 jock in GCI... on the Six with SAGE, all you're really there to do is land the plane or act as a backup guidance and fire-control system--and oh by the way, hope things don't get desperate because if you and your buddies' missiles don't knock down enough of the bombers SAGE tactics and doctrine include an option to start using the planes as Kamikaze SAMs whether you have a chance to bail out or not. (Source: multiple F-106 pilots and groundcrewmen, including a prof who used to command a squadron of 'em and my grandfather who slung wrenches on 'em with a squadron deployed to Korea in response to the Pueblo Incident.)
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IIRC the Viggen back then would be armed with Skyflash missiles which required a constant, non-interrupted radar lock from the aircraft in order to hit; just like the AIM-7 Sparrow...And neither the Skyflash or Sparrow had a very good hit % in combat, in he 30% range IIRC. So even though they were occasionally able to lock them up, a kills is certainly NOT guaranteed by any means.
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