Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Sweden’s Saab has built some of the most innovative fighter jets in Europe. From the early Cold War years to the present day, Saab consistently pushed the boundaries of design, producing aircraft that rivaled much larger manufacturers.
The journey began with the Saab 21R and the swept-wing Saab 29 Tunnan, Sweden’s first true jet fighter. These were followed by the Saab 32 Lansen, a versatile all-weather strike and reconnaissance platform. In the 1950s, Saab unveiled the Saab 35 Draken — a Mach 2 delta-wing interceptor that became a Cold War icon and proved Sweden could compete on the global stage.
The 1960s brought the Saab 37 Viggen, one of the world’s first canard-equipped fighters, featuring advanced avionics, short take-off and landing capabilities, and multirole performance that impressed even NATO air forces. Today, Saab’s most famous design, the JAS 39 Gripen, carries that legacy forward. Agile, modern, and continuously upgraded into the E and F variants, the Gripen remains one of Europe’s leading multirole fighters, competing with aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale.
Saab’s story shows how a small nation created some of the most distinctive and capable combat aircraft of the jet age — from the Tunnan to the Draken, Viggen, and Gripen — shaping European aviation history.
CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro
01:22 Early Designs
02:40 SAAB 21R
04:23 SAAB 29 Tunnan
07:46 SAAB 32 Lansen
10:14 SAAB 210 Lilldraken
11:01 SAAB 35 Draken
16:55 SAAB 37 Viggen
22:00 JAS 39 Gripen
27:04 Conclusion
Support the Channel
Join our Members & Merch shop for ad-free early access, exclusive military-themed discounts, and more perks: https://peacemaker.fashion
_____________ Disclaimer _____________
Some original footage and recreated scenes (using simulators like DCS and War Thunder) may not be 100% accurate to the events depicted but have been used for illustrative and dramatic purposes where archival footage was unavailable or restricted by copyright. We aim to remain as historically accurate as possible given the available resources. We use synthetic narrator voices for clarity.
Copyright Notice:
This video may contain copyrighted material used under the "fair dealing" provisions (ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A, ss 42/103B) of the Australian Copyright Act for purposes of research, study, criticism, review, and news reporting.
All copyrights remain with their respective owners.
Our videos are created for educational and historical documentation purposes.
About Us:
We are three aviation enthusiasts who create documentaries, interviews, and video essays focused on Australian and international military aviation history. Our channel explores the stories of military aircraft, fighter pilots, air battles, and the evolution of air power from WWI to today. We do our own research but are not experts in any particular area, so corrections and suggestions are welcome.
Sweden’s Saab has built some of the most innovative fighter jets in Europe. From the early Cold War years to the present day, Saab consistently pushed the boundaries of design, producing aircraft that rivaled much larger manufacturers.
The journey began with the Saab 21R and the swept-wing Saab 29 Tunnan, Sweden’s first true jet fighter. These were followed by the Saab 32 Lansen, a versatile all-weather strike and reconnaissance platform. In the 1950s, Saab unveiled the Saab 35 Draken — a Mach 2 delta-wing interceptor that became a Cold War icon and proved Sweden could compete on the global stage.
The 1960s brought the Saab 37 Viggen, one of the world’s first canard-equipped fighters, featuring advanced avionics, short take-off and landing capabilities, and multirole performance that impressed even NATO air forces. Today, Saab’s most famous design, the JAS 39 Gripen, carries that legacy forward. Agile, modern, and continuously upgraded into the E and F variants, the Gripen remains one of Europe’s leading multirole fighters, competing with aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale.
Saab’s story shows how a small nation created some of the most distinctive and capable combat aircraft of the jet age — from the Tunnan to the Draken, Viggen, and Gripen — shaping European aviation history.
CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro
01:22 Early Designs
02:40 SAAB 21R
04:23 SAAB 29 Tunnan
07:46 SAAB 32 Lansen
10:14 SAAB 210 Lilldraken
11:01 SAAB 35 Draken
16:55 SAAB 37 Viggen
22:00 JAS 39 Gripen
27:04 Conclusion
Support the Channel
Join our Members & Merch shop for ad-free early access, exclusive military-themed discounts, and more perks: https://peacemaker.fashion
_____________ Disclaimer _____________
Some original footage and recreated scenes (using simulators like DCS and War Thunder) may not be 100% accurate to the events depicted but have been used for illustrative and dramatic purposes where archival footage was unavailable or restricted by copyright. We aim to remain as historically accurate as possible given the available resources. We use synthetic narrator voices for clarity.
Copyright Notice:
This video may contain copyrighted material used under the "fair dealing" provisions (ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A, ss 42/103B) of the Australian Copyright Act for purposes of research, study, criticism, review, and news reporting.
All copyrights remain with their respective owners.
Our videos are created for educational and historical documentation purposes.
About Us:
We are three aviation enthusiasts who create documentaries, interviews, and video essays focused on Australian and international military aviation history. Our channel explores the stories of military aircraft, fighter pilots, air battles, and the evolution of air power from WWI to today. We do our own research but are not experts in any particular area, so corrections and suggestions are welcome.
