The SAAB A32 Lansen (Swedish:"lance") was a two-seater attack aircraft produced by SAAB from 1955 to 1960 for Flygvapnet, the Swedish air force. 450 aircraft were produced in different variants for day fighter, all-weather fighter, ground attack and reconnaissance tasks. Later on some aircrafts were modified for use as target tugs and ECM aircrafts. There were no trainer versions, but some Lansens had rudimentary controls installed in the rear seat.
Lansen was a humble aircraft that never stood out compared to other nation's fighters. It was, however, one of the first airplanes in the world to be designed partly by using computers, in Lansen's case the wings. It was also the first Swedish aircraft to reach supersonic speed when making a shallow dive. Airforce pilots often described it as pleasant to fly. It had a formidable armament of four 30mm ADEN cannon.
The A32 Lansen was Sweden's last purpose-built attack aircraft.
External link
Webpage about A32. (http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/text/32lansen.htm)
SAAB (originally an acronym for "Svenska Aeroplan AB," where "AB" stands for "aktiebolaget" ("limited company")) was founded as a Swedish aircraft concern in 1937 in the city of Linköping, in Sweden.
Saab has been making airplanes since the 1930s, and predecessors to the Gripen were among others the Lansen, the Draken and the Viggen.
Saab Ericsson Space is a joint venture with Ericsson, designing the on board computers used in the Ariane 5 rockets used by the European Space Agency.
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