109-536: [REDACTED] Look up draken in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Draken may refer to: Saab 35 Draken , a Swedish-manufactured fighter aircraft Draken International , a company providing fighter aircraft for training purposes The Draken, a fictional monster in the animated series Jumanji Draken , a rollercoaster in Gyeongju World Draken ,
218-446: A barrel roll at the peak of the initial nose climb which ends the maneuver with a barrel roll. The cobra hover is an extension of the original maneuver in which an aircraft initiates the cobra but remains in the "cobra state" for a longer period of time by the use of thrust control, thus achieving the "hover" part of the maneuver. After which the aircraft can complete the maneuver in various ways depending on its energy. The cobra turn
327-418: A countermeasure pod named Kapsel KB with chaff and flare dispensers under the wings to increase its survivability. The aircraft had 4 primary hardpoints in total for external ordnance, 1 under each wing and 2 on the belly. For long range missions it was possible to mount up to 4 drop tanks on these hardpoints. For night missions it could carry an active infrared reconnaissance system of EG&G design in
436-537: A fencing maneuver of the same name, known as " beat parry " in English. When pulling high alpha, the pilot would have noticed that he was entering super stall, and would then have pulled negative alpha to recover. The dramatic effect of this maneuver on aircraft speed was noticed and pilots started to purposely use it to drop speed. The Swedish test pilots who discovered the cobra were Bengt Olow [ sv ] and Ceylon Utterborn [ sv ] , who developed
545-481: A Swedish developed afterburner (EBK67), which could deliver 77.3 kN of thrust when using its afterburner. Secondly, the David featured increased internal fuel capacity for longer range. It also featured two hardpoints on the belly to be able to mount two 500-liter external drop tanks for even longer range missions (compared to one 530-liter drop tank for the 35A, B and C). Despite having more fuel than its predecessors,
654-523: A Swedish developed afterburner. Two types of afterburners came to be used on the J 35A, resulting in two primary variants: The radar on the J 35As was a French Cyrano RA 423 radar from Thompson-CSF (Swedish designation PS-02/A) as the originally planned Swedish radar (PS-03) from LME hadn't been developed in time. The gunsight was an advanced gyro gunsight developed by Saab for both the Saab 32B and Saab 35A called S-6 (later named S-6B). It used data from
763-597: A crash. Intrigued, he decided to try to replicate the maneuver in a controlled manner, this time by engaging the afterburner beforehand, as the Tumansky R-11 engine of the MiG-21 had to spool for full effect. After successful replication of the maneuver, it became clear that this was the close combat defensive maneuver that he sought. The Syrians named the cobra the "zero-speed maneuver" ( Arabic : مناورة السرعة صفر "munawarat alsureat sifr" ). Mohammad soon saw combat again with
872-497: A former cinema and concert hall in Stockholm, Sweden. Draken Harald Harfagre , a replica Viking longship See also [ edit ] Dragon (disambiguation) , alternate name Drake (disambiguation) Drakan , video game series Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Draken . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
981-501: A further 60 J 35A being ordered on February 7, 1958. The initial 40 aircraft delivered in 1960 were delivered without a radar and gunsight. This was corrected in 1961 and 65 Adam were equipped with radar and gunsight in the end. 25 Adam were converted to Saab 35C unarmed two-seat trainers between April 1961 to August 1962. The Saab 35A was fitted with a license produced Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.48A (Avon 200 series) engine (Swedish designation RM6BS ) from SFA (today Volvo Aero ) fitted with
1090-506: A further 60 aircraft, meant to be converted to S 35B2 (S 35E) reconnaissance aircraft, being planned to be ordered in November 1960. In the end, only 30 Davids (all of series 1) was converted to S 35E standard, having first served as a fighter aircraft between May 1963 and January 1964. Due to manufacturing issues, delivery delays occurred for some J 35D subsystems, resulting in that the two initial J 35D series being delivered with only parts of
1199-577: A need for a supersonic fighter that could intercept bombers at high altitude as well as engage other fighters. During September 1949, the Swedish Air Force, via the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration , released its recently formulated requirement for a cutting-edge interceptor aircraft that was envisioned to be capable of attacking hostile bomber aircraft in the transonic speed range. The original requirement specified
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#17328442248581308-450: A new Saab-built S-7 collision-course gunsight and fire-control radar, and integration with Sweden's STRIL 60 air defence control network. A total of 651 Drakens were manufactured by Saab. Sweden's fleet of Drakens comprised a total of six different versions, while two additional models of the Draken were offered to prospective export customers. The final model of the Draken to be produced was
1417-490: A pod fitted to a belly hardpoint. Fighter version designated J 35F ( Filip ). Delivered between 1965 and 1972, total production: 230. This variant had improved electronics and avionics, e.g. integrated radar, aim and missile systems, introducing the capability to use semi-active radar homing (SARH) and infrared homing (IR) versions of the Hughes Falcon missile, rb 27 and rb 28 respectively, originally intended for
1526-491: A sub-scale test aircraft, the Saab 210 , which was produced and flown to test this previously-unexplored aerodynamic feature. The full-scale production version entered service with frontline squadrons of the Swedish Air Force on March 8, 1960. It was produced in several variants and types, most commonly as a fighter - interceptor . The Saab 35 Draken is known for, among other things, its many "firsts" within aviation. It
1635-440: A sudden activation of the afterburner and a climb. However, during a test flight in early 1967, Mohammad inadvertently pitched the nose of his MiG-21 too hard, so that the forward movement of his aircraft nearly stopped. In reaction, he engaged the afterburner of his MiG, and ended with the plane standing vertically on the verge of stalling out of control. Mohammad managed to recover the plane from that state, just in time to prevent
1744-421: A tailplane, resulting in a clean, simple overall design. The leading edge of the inner wing was swept back 80° for high-speed performance, and the outer wing 60° for good performance at low speeds. The cockpit of the Draken featured mostly Swedish-sourced instrumentation. Successive models introduced various improvements to the cockpit fittings, such as the revised canopy and new avionics. For export customers,
1853-540: A team of more than 500 technicians, constructed a small test aircraft to explore the behaviour of the new wing. A sub-scale test aircraft constructed in Sweden, the Saab 210 (formally flygplan 210 , "aircraft 210"), unofficially nicknamed "Lilldraken" (the little dragon), comprised a test of the double delta wing, and performed its first flight on January 21, 1952. Results produced by these test flights led to an order for three full-size Draken prototypes. On October 25, 1955,
1962-407: A top speed of Mach 1.4 to 1.5, but this was revised upwards in 1956 to Mach 1.7 to 1.8 and then again in 1959 to Mach 2.0. It had to be flown by a single pilot, yet be capable of conducting combat operations under all weather conditions, night or day, while operating from relatively austere airstrips, carrying all equipment needed to neutralize modern jet bombers. Although other interceptors like
2071-424: A variety of bombs and rockets, along with provisions for the installation of a pair of 30 mm cannons, located within each of the inboard wing panels. In place of the cannons, additional fuel tanks could be fitted in the same space. For aerial reconnaissance missions, a variety of camera pods could be carried underneath the fuselage. Due to a lack of knowledge regarding the then historically unproven design of
2180-400: A vertical and slightly past vertical attitude, causing an extremely high angle of attack and making the plane into a full-body air brake , momentarily stalling the plane, before dropping back to normal position, during which the aircraft does not change effective altitude. The maneuver relies on the ability of the plane to be able to quickly change angle of attack (alpha) without overloading
2289-570: Is Pugachev's cobra (alternatively the Pugachev cobra ), referencing the Soviet pilot Viktor Pugachev , who was the first to bring the maneuver to the public eye. In Sweden , the country which presumably was the first to discover the maneuver, the maneuver is traditionally known under the name kort parad ("short parry"), the Swedish term for the fencing maneuver " beat parry ", in which an incoming attack
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#17328442248582398-509: Is a Swedish fighter-interceptor developed and manufactured by Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget ( SAAB ) between 1955 and 1974. Development of the Saab 35 Draken started in 1948 as the Swedish air force future replacement for the then also in development Saab 29 Tunnan dayfighter and Saab 32B Lansen night fighter . It featured an innovative but unproven double delta wing, which led to the creation of
2507-428: Is a fighter aircraft, equipped with a distinctive double delta wing. According to Flight International, it is difficult to differentiate between the fuselage and the wing. The design anticipates what would later be known as a ‘blended wing-body’. The fuselage has a circular section, and the inboard portion of the wing is a large- chord surface which extended almost to the engine intakes. It was possible to dispense with
2616-476: Is an air combat maneuver . It is a variation on the cobra maneuver where the aircraft performs the pull-up, but instead of returning to level flight applies rudder or thrust vectoring and turns downward. The aircraft achieves a negative angle of attack, ending the maneuver in a dive, therefore regaining airspeed sooner than the common cobra. John Turner of BAE considers the cobra maneuver to have little use in air combat maneuvering . It could also be argued that
2725-578: Is deflected using a beat (a sharp strike to the opponents blade, knocking it out of line), leaving the enemy open for a riposte . As a more scientific name, the maneuver has been given the name dynamic deceleration , referring to the way the plane loses speed during the maneuver. In a similar manner, the Syrians apparently called the maneuver the Zero speed maneuver ( Arabic : مناورة السرعة صفر , "Munawarat alsureat sifr") during their usage of MiG-21F-13s and
2834-408: Is most commonly known as the cobra or the cobra maneuver in the respective language; for example: Russian : Ко́бра (Kobra), German : Kobramanöver . The etymology for the name cobra is unknown but it could refer to the plane displaying its top and bottom profile, much like a cobra spreading its shield, or rearing its body up vertically to attack. A notable variant of the "cobra" name
2943-409: Is not recovered for more than ten seconds. While entering the cobra is effective as a "speed brake" maneuver, usefulness in combat is limited at best, and then only if exited while sufficient energy remains to bring the weapons to bear before the opponent can break into an evasive maneuver—or, worse, loop back and attack. One simple defense-into-attack maneuver is for the opponent to split-S , pass under
3052-679: The Austrian Air Force . In an interview, former Finnish Air Force pilot Ari Saarinen recalled performing the maneuver in a Draken while intercepting a Royal Air Force Hawker Siddeley Nimrod over the Baltic Sea ; the Nimrod pilot reduced power in order to get the Finns to overshoot, but the Finnish Drakens performed the maneuver to slow down, which according to Saarinen drew praise over the radio from
3161-509: The Cobra maneuver . It was also one of the first Western-European-built aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight, reaching it on January 14, 1960. The Draken functioned as an effective supersonic fighter aircraft of the Cold War period, although it was never used in conflict. Even though the type was designed and intended as an interceptor , it was considered to be a very capable dogfighter for
3270-527: The US Air Force 's F-104 Starfighter were being conceived at the time, this fighter would have to undertake a role unique to Sweden; the ability to operate from reinforced public roads , which were to be used as part of wartime airbases . The aircraft also needed to be refueled and rearmed in no more than ten minutes by conscripts with minimal training. SAAB commenced work on producing an aircraft to meet these requirements. Preliminary studies found that
3379-654: The United Arab Republic , they were left with a very weak air force . The Syrians had to order new combat aircraft, and procured the Mig-21 F-13 in June 1962. Once the aircraft had arrived and been integrated into the fleet, a problem became apparent. All of the unit commanders had been selected based on their political associations and loyalty to superiors, instead of knowledge of air combat. The new commanders were over-reliant on advice from about 30 Soviet advisors assigned to
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3488-579: The Yom Kippur War , but the theory is based on a quote from an Israeli pilot that only mentions an Egyptian MiG-21 apparently standing on its tail while trying to evade an attack. Research and developments on supermaneuverability started in USSR in the early 1980s by Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute , Gromov Flight Research Institute , Sukhoi and Mikoyan . In flight testing the Su-27 test pilot Igor Volk
3597-608: The Yugoslavian Federal Army . After the fall of the Iron Curtain , Austria declared the relevant article to be obsolete. Thus in 1993, a contract for the purchase of AIM-9 Sidewinder was signed with the Swedish Air Force . They were followed from 1998 by a number of improved AIM-9P5's from Loral Corporation In 2005, these Drakens were retired, having been replaced by former Swiss Air Force F-5 Tiger IIs , while waiting for new Eurofighter Typhoons to take their place in
3706-503: The airframe , and sufficient engine thrust to maintain nearly constant altitude through the entire move, but also post-stall stability and aerodynamics that allows for the recovery to level flight. The maneuver demands accurate pitch control, alpha stability and engine-versus-inlet compatibility for the aircraft, as well as a high skill level on the part of the pilot. The cobra maneuver is an example of supermaneuverability , specifically poststall maneuvering . The Herbst maneuver and
3815-410: The drag at the rear of the plane causes a torque that makes the aircraft pitch forward. At the same time, the pilot adds power to compensate for the reduced lift. If pursued by an enemy fighter in a dogfight , by executing the cobra, a sufficiently closely pursued aircraft may suddenly slow itself down to the point that the pursuer overshoots it, allowing the previously pursued aircraft to complete
3924-457: The elevator of the aircraft is pitched to the point where it breaks the airflow during a pitch up; but also post-stall control and stability to not enter an uncontrollable stall at the peak of the pitch; which then allows the aircraft to center the elevator and using the torque from the elevators added drag to pitch forward and make an aerodynamic recovery to horizontal flying again. Only specific aircraft feature this "instability" and thus
4033-644: The 14.5 cm psrak m49/56 high-explosive anti-tank rocket and in 1978, a new type of air-to-air missile, the AIM-9J Sidewinder (Swedish designation rb 24J ), later modified with an Ericsson laser proximity fuze, making it equivelant to the AIM-9P-3. Something noteworthy is that the J 35D was the last Swedish Draken variant fitted with 2 guns. Reconnaissance version of the Saab 35D designated S 35E ( Erik ). 60 aircraft (35901–35960), including test aircraft, built between 1963 and 1968 in 2 series. The S 35E
4142-687: The British Nimrod crew. According to a video uploaded by the Scania Wing comrade association (Swedish: F10 Kamratförening), the Swedish cobra was taught to Austrian pilots training on the Saab 35 in Sweden . It is unknown whether the Austrians used this as a combat maneuver or just as training against super stall. Beyond Sweden, Syria also discovered the maneuver prior to the Soviets. In 1961 when Syria left
4251-472: The David was the fastest Draken version, capable of accelerating until out of fuel. In terms of armament and avionics, the J 35D was almost identical to the J 35B. It was fully integrated into the Swedish STRIL 60 system and was also fitted with a 'control data system', allowing the aircraft to receive digital orders from ground control. It also featured the same PS-03/A radar and S-7A-2 radar gunsight as
4360-493: The Draken had been almost entirely replaced by the Saab 37 Viggen in SAF service. The Draken J 35J was effectively a service life extension programme, which had been initiated as a result of the impending delivery of the new Saab JAS 39 Gripen having suffered several delays. The extension program was intended to keep the Draken flying into the 2000s but, as a consequence of budgetary cutbacks and high maintenance costs being incurred with
4469-423: The Draken was outfitted with a Ferranti -built Airpass II fire-control radar, which was effective for acquiring various air-to-air or air-to-surface targets, along with a ground-mapping mode working in conjunction with the aircraft's navigation systems. Typically, two separate radio units would be installed, along with a high-speed data link and two navigation systems. As there is no natural feedback placed upon
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4578-584: The Israeli Air Force but never got to use the maneuver. The cobra quickly became a standard part of defensive tactics for Syrian Mig-21s. With time, as their air forces were stationed in Syria, the maneuver spread to both the Pakistan and Egyptian air force , who also began using it as a standard defensive maneuver for their MiG-21s. The cobra maneuver may have been performed in combat by an Egyptian pilot during
4687-568: The J 35's tailless double delta wing configuration, the plane encountered problems at the start of its service life. The unstable design of the double delta wing made it difficult to land early versions of the J 35 as they had to be manually stabilized during landing. The design also allowed the plane to enter a " super stall "; which can be described as an uncontrollable stall affecting aircraft with specific wing configurations when experiencing high alpha numbers. Due to this, J 35 pilots were trained to prevent super stalls, and this training led to
4796-590: The J 35B was for the most part equivalent to the J 35A, but the fixed 30 mm akan m/55 ADEN cannons in the wings had 100 rounds per gun and the aircraft had gained the ability to use 75 mm srak m/57 air-to-air rockets . The rockets were fired from Rakkaps m/57 rocket pods mounted in pairs on the Sidewinder belly pylon, each holding 19 rockets. Twin-seat trainer version designated SK 35C ( Cesar ). 25 aircraft (35801–35825), converted from J 35A1s (Adam kort) between April 1961 to August 1962 by rebuilding
4905-400: The J 35B. Weaponry on the J 35D was at least initially equivalent to the J 35B. It had two 30 mm akan m/55 ADEN cannons in the wings with 100 rounds per gun, 4 inward hardpoints, 1 under each wing and 2 on the belly, for external air-to-air ordnance, as well as 6 outer hardpoints for air-to-ground rockets. In 1977, however, a new type of air-to-ground rocket became available to the J 35D,
5014-401: The J 35D. To make space for more avionics, the left cannon was removed, with ammunition increased to 120 rounds for the right cannon as compensation. The J 35F existed in two primary variants: Attacker version designated J 35G ( Gustav ). 70 aircraft suggested to be converted from J 35Ds but the project was cancelled early on. The Gustaf version was specifically going to be able to carry
5123-406: The J 35F, which was also the final version to remain in Swedish service, then modified to J 35J standard. Its export customers included Denmark and Finland. In May 1985, the Austrian Air Force purchased 24 J 35Ds, which had been refurbished by Saab. The J 35 Draken design underwent several upgrades. The last of these was the J 35J version, which was produced during the late 1980s; by this point,
5232-457: The SAF opted to retire the Draken during December 1999. The type was also exported to the air forces of Austria , Denmark and Finland . Danish aircraft have been exported, post-service, to the United States where they have seen use as training aircraft for test pilots. The Swedish word "Draken" has a double meaning, translating either as "The Dragon" or "The Kite". It is said that the name
5341-468: The SAF. The base aircraft of the Saab 35E was almost identical to the J 35D and featured the same engine and afterburner, the RM6CS and EBK67. It differed however in that it had no armament or radar, as to make space for 9 Vinten cameras, five in the nose and four in the fuselage, some mounted upright, others mounted obliquely. The aircraft was however fitted with a radar warning receiver and could mount
5450-540: The Saab Rb 05 air-to-ground missile . Fighter version designated J 35J ( Johan ). In 1985 the Swedish government decided to modify 67 J 35F2s to the J 35J standard. The aircraft received a longer lifespan, modernized electronics, a modernized cannon, two additional hardpoints under the intakes for extra AIM-9 Sidewinder pylons ( balk G , "pylon G") and increased external fuel capacity. The modification took place between 1987 and 1991. The final operational J 35J flew for
5559-420: The Saab 35 is susceptible. A super stall is an uncontrollable stall which is much harder to recover from than a standard stall . Super stall plagued the early years of Saab 35 service, causing several deaths, which led the Swedish air staff to implement extra training on how to counteract and recover from them. The result was the cobra maneuver. The Swedes named the maneuver "kort parad" (short parry) after
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#17328442248585668-544: The Syrian Air Force to help with training on the Migs, but were generally ineffective. In this era of power over knowledge, however, a handful of pilots with powerful connections were able to disregard their Soviet advisors and orders from their commanders. One of these pilots, Mohammad Mansour, then a novice MiG-21-pilot fresh from a conversion course in the USSR, had an older brother, Fayez Mansour, with deep connections high in
5777-553: The aircraft could easily be converted back to J 35A standard if necessary. However, the prototype (35800) was used by Saab to trial the Rb 05 air-to-ground missile . Fighter version designated J 35D ( David ). 120 aircraft (35274–35393) delivered between May 1963 and April 1965 in 3 series. The J 35D was initially planned to be designated J 35B2 , before being renamed to J 35D in January 1960. 62 J 35B2 were ordered on November 15, 1958, with
5886-415: The aircraft going against the airflow. To perform the cobra, the maneuver must be entered from fairly high subsonic speeds. Proper entry speed is necessary because, if the maneuver is entered too slowly, the plane might be unable to complete the maneuver or return to level flight with sufficient speed, while entering at too high a speed would create g-forces so high that the pilot loses consciousness or
5995-447: The aircraft initiates the cobra, but instead of remaining in altitude and continuing forward, it starts to stall climb (climbing vertically). The maneuver is similar to a regular stall climb except that the change from level flight to stall climb happens much faster. However, unlike a regular climb, this still achieves the effect of the cobra and the aircraft will still stall momentarily which lowers speed and momentum. The maneuver ends with
6104-400: The aircraft to not lose or gain substantial altitude during the maneuver, the change of alpha during the vertical pitchup has to be fast enough to break the airflow of the wings, as to not make the aircraft climb. To be able to perform this rapid vertical pitchup the aircraft needs an "aerodynamic instability" in its core aerodynamics which will make the aircraft rapidly pitch up by itself once
6213-400: The aircraft's nose, provided emergency power, while the engine also featured a built-in emergency starter unit. To reduce its landing distance when required, the Draken was equipped with a drogue parachute . The principal armament was carried externally, up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles were carried on hard points beneath the wings and fuselage; alternative payloads include
6322-412: The aircraft's yaw and pitch axis, as well as other sources to give accurate aim for the weaponry. Range data could be taken from the radar or set manually by the pilot. Weaponry on the J 35A consisted of two fixed 30 mm ADEN cannons (Swedish designation 30 mm akan m/55 ) in the wings with 90 rounds per gun. For external ordnance the J 35A had nine hardpoints , eight under the wings and one on
6431-419: The airframe is damaged. High thrust is also needed throughout the maneuver to not stall out. To execute the maneuver the aircraft only needs to use its standard aerodynamic controls , however executing it can be achieved more easily with the addition of modern thrust vectoring . The cobra maneuver requires more than just pilot input and aircraft maneuverability to be performed. Since the maneuver requires
6540-435: The appeal of the tactic, some Saab 37 pilots attempted it, but to their dismay were unable to effectively perform it above speeds of 350 km/h (220 mph) as the Saab 37 couldn't safely handle the necessary gs , rendering it effectively useless in combat. When the Saab 35 was retired, so was the maneuver, as the next generations of Swedish warplanes, the Saab 37 and the Saab 39 , couldn't effectively perform it. Due to
6649-497: The attacker a shot opportunity, and thereby decreases the probability of kill . If the attacker manages their speed and rate of closure properly, the defender executing a cobra maneuver presents the attacker with a larger target to shoot due to the increased presented surface area when the defender is oriented vertically. The cobra maneuver has been used in mock dogfights but there is little to no known documentation of it being used in actual combat. One primary described mock dogfight
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#17328442248586758-578: The belly. Six of the wing hardpoints were for mounting 13.5 cm srak m/56 high-explosive air-to-ground rockets. The other two wing hardpoints were for mounting AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles (Swedish designation rb 24 ). Rockets and missiles could not be mounted simultaneously on the wings. The belly hardpoint could mount either two rb 24 Sidewinders or a 530-liter drop tank. Fighter version designated J 35B ( Bertil ). 73 aircraft (35201–35273), including test aircraft, were built and delivered between February 1962 and March 1963. The J 35B
6867-568: The chain of command in Damascus . Those connections enabled him to challenge Soviet advisors and demand greater operational flexibility for himself and other pilots of his unit. During Mohammed's first clashes with the Israeli Air Force , he realized that there was a need for an effective defensive maneuver in close combat that forced a pursuer to overshoot. His initial solution based on Soviet manuals consisted of rapid descending turns followed by
6976-439: The climb and the aircraft can return to common flight in various ways. In the cobra stall, the aircraft initiates the cobra, but instead of returning to level flight, the aircraft instead fully stalls out after which it applies thrust and rudder to change the direction of the aircraft. In the cobra roll, the aircraft initiates the cobra but instead of returning to level flight, the aircraft uses its ailerons and rudder to initiate
7085-419: The cobra behind the other. This may allow the now-pursuing aircraft an opportunity for firing its weapons, particularly if a proper pointing aspect (facing toward the former pursuer) can be maintained. Due to the speed loss when performing a cobra, maintaining weapons on target may require the use of thrust vectoring or canard control surfaces. Otherwise, the maneuver may also allow the pursued plane to flee as
7194-482: The cobra maneuver was used during some of these engagements, surprising the Soviets. Late in the Saab 35's service life, the maneuver was used as a 'secret weapon' by Saab-35 pilots in mock dogfights facing the more advanced Saab 37 fighter. The Saab 37 was unable to safely enter super stalls, and therefore its pilots did not receive any major training against its use. The cobra maneuver was therefore unknown to many Saab 37 pilots prior to facing it in competition. Due to
7303-458: The combat effect is likely to be similar to the “ Vectoring In Forward Flight " or VIFFing maneuver. In theory, VIFFing allows the aircraft to effectively slow down or stop while the enemy overshoots, leaving the aircraft in a favorable position to attack the enemy. Unlike VIFFing, however, the fully developed cobra maneuver leaves the aircraft in a precarious and non-offensive attitude, with no energy, with weapons pointing toward empty sky and with
7412-447: The defending aircraft successfully forces the aggressor to overshoot the attack, the defender often does not have enough energy to counter-attack. The second more prevalent reason for avoiding the use of the maneuver is taught in most fighter pilot training. When attacking an aircraft, the pilot must be mindful of the closure-rate between both aircraft. If the closure rate is too high, the defender can change direction rapidly, which denies
7521-461: The development of the cobra maneuver . The cobra is performed by entering into a controlled super stall state, gaining high alpha and then quickly negating the angle of attack to counter the stall. This forces the airframe to act as an air brake for a few seconds, which rapidly reduces the speed. The Swedish Air Force is the first air force to have discovered and developed the cobra maneuver. The Swedish named it kort parad (short parry) after
7630-441: The end of 1960, multiple wings had been equipped with the Draken and had attained operational status. Although the J 35 Draken was designed as a high altitude interceptor and not as a dog fighter, it proved to have a good quick-turn capability and high speed at all altitudes, making it a very capable fighter plane . The early models were intended purely to perform the air defense mission. However, to assist pilots in converting to
7739-399: The era. In Swedish service, it underwent several upgrades, the ultimate of these being the J 35J model. By the mid-1980s, the SAF's Drakens had largely been replaced by the more advanced JA 37 Viggen fighter, while the introduction of the more capable Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter was expected in service within a decade, although delayed. As a consequence of cutbacks and high maintenance costs,
7848-403: The fencing maneuver of the same name, in English known as ‘ beat parry ’. Initially it was used during training to teach pilots how to counter super stalls, however it also saw secondary use as a combat maneuver which would cause a pursuing enemy fighter overshoot, allowing the pilot to riposte . At the end of 1959, deliveries of the J 35A Draken commenced to the SAF, the first unit to receive
7957-446: The first of these prototypes, not fitted with an afterburner , conducted its maiden flight . According to aircraft publication Flight International , an atypically intensive flight test program was conducted to define and test the type's exceptional speed, range, and complicated systems. The second prototype, equipped with an afterburner, unintentionally broke the sound barrier during its first flight while climbing. During 1956,
8066-454: The first operational version of the Draken, designated as the J 35A, was ordered into quantity production and the first production aircraft flew for the first time on February 15, 1958. Mach 2 was reached on January 14, 1960 with test pilot Erik Dahlström at the controls of the J 35B prototype. The engine used was a slightly modified British made Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.48A (Swedish designation RM6BE), engine number 3459. The Saab 35 Draken
8175-404: The front section of the aircraft, not including the prototype (35800), which flew on December 30, 1959, and was privately owned by Saab. The SK 35C was initially planned to be designated J 35C , before being renamed to "SK 35C" in January 1960. The twenty five SK 35C (J 35C) front sections were ordered on August 24, 1956. The Cesar-version lacked armament but the minor modification meant that
8284-491: The heaviest of the series to have flown. During 1993, the last of the Danish J 35 fleet were retired. During the 1990s, Finland updated its 35XS fleet with new avionics, cockpit displays, navigational/attack systems, and electronic countermeasures ; these were finally retired in 2000 to be replaced by F/A-18 Hornets . Austria was the last country to have the Draken in active military service. The first refurbished Draken J-35Ö's
8393-496: The helicopter maneuver are similar post-stall maneuvers that are often executed by 4.5th generation and 5th generation fighter aircraft employing thrust vectoring . The maneuver is typically performed at air shows , but could be used as a last-ditch maneuver to force a chaser to overshoot in close-range air combat . The maneuver has never been verified in real combat, although it has been used during mock dogfights and border protection. The maneuver has many names, but it
8502-500: The last time in 1999. Before it was decided to develop the JAS 39 Gripen in the 1970s, studies were undertaken on modification for low flight hour J 35F airframes. Cobra maneuver In aerobatics , the cobra maneuver (or just the cobra ), also called dynamic deceleration , among other names (see Etymology ), is a dramatic and demanding maneuver in which an airplane flying at a moderate speed abruptly raises its nose momentarily to
8611-405: The like. The maneuver can simply be described as; a rapid vertical pitchup from level flight without initiating a climb, followed by a forward-pitch back to level flight. If properly performed, the plane maintains nearly straight flight throughout the maneuver. The plane does not roll or yaw in either direction. This greatly lowers the speed of the aircraft due to the un-aerodynamic under-surface of
8720-461: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draken&oldid=1172567416 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Saab 35 Draken The Saab 35 Draken ( IPA: [²drɑːkɛn] ; The Kite , ambiguous with The Dragon )
8829-634: The long term. In the United States, the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) operated six Drakens that were formerly in Danish service. They were retired in 2009. Several prototypes and test aircraft of the Saab 35 have existed over the years. Some have been prototypes for new variants while others have been test platforms for other aircraft. Fighter version designated J 35A ( Adam ). 90 aircraft (35001–35090), including test aircraft, delivered between March 1960 and December 1961. 29 J 35A were ordered on August 24, 1956, with
8938-426: The majority of critical issues posed by these requirements could be met with a delta wing configuration. However, to obtain an aerodynamically desirable location, the forward fuselage needed to be extended, making the aircraft too heavy. The optimum solution was thought to be a double delta wing. However, this wing configuration was new and untested, so SAAB's design staff, headed by aircraft engineer Erik Bratt , and
9047-433: The maneuver can only be performed by a small number of aircraft models. This is because conventional aircraft are designed to lack this instability for safety reasons, and can thus not execute the maneuver by conventional means. Simply put, the cobra relies more on the core aerodynamics of the aircraft than its control surfaces and avionics and can thus only be performed by specific aircraft featuring aerodynamics allowing for
9156-437: The maneuver was a useful combat move if performed correctly, with the caveat that it was only effective as a last ditch maneuver due to the loss of speed when performed. During the early 1960s, the maneuver was developed and performed by Swedish pilots flying the Saab 35 fighter jet . It was invented during training for recovery from super stalls (also known as deep stalls) to which the double delta tailless design of
9265-405: The maneuver. In the case of the Su-27 , to execute the maneuver the pilot initially disengages the angle of attack limiter of the plane, normally set at 26°. This action also disengages the g limiter. After that, the pilot pulls back hard on the stick . The aircraft reaches an angle of attack of 90–120° with a slight gain of altitude and a significant loss of speed. When the elevator is centered,
9374-459: The overshooting attacker may lose track of the target. The maneuver is also potentially a defense against radar , as the sudden change in velocity can often cause Doppler radar to lose its target lock. Doppler radars often ignore any objects with a near-zero velocity to reduce ground clutter. The cobra maneuver's sudden change to near-zero velocity often results in the target being momentarily filtered off as ground clutter, making it difficult for
9483-553: The pilot having lost sight of the enemy. If the pilot exits the cobra by using rudder, this is a very slow version of the hammerhead. At the same time, the aircraft is defenseless, unable to maneuver, nearly stationary, offers the largest lateral visual and radar target and is creating a massive plume of hot exhaust, making it an easy target for any type of weapon and attack which an enemy might choose. The transition from cobra maneuver to effective and controlled flight takes several seconds, and airspeed sufficient for defensive maneuvering
9592-444: The planned avionics installed. Series 3, however, was delivered with complete avionics, resulting in there being two primary sub-variants of the J 35D initially: The Saab 35D base aircraft differed quite a lot compared to previous variants. For one, it was fitted with the much stronger Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.60 (Avon 300 series) engine (Swedish designation RM6CS), which was license produced by SFA (today Volvo Aero ) and fitted with
9701-477: The planned avionics installed. This resulted in there being two primary sub-variants of the J 35B historically: The base aircraft of the Saab 35B was identical to the J 35A2 and featured the same engine and afterburner, the RM6BS and EBK66. Distinctive from the J 35A, however, was that the J 35B was fully integrated into the Swedish STRIL 60 system; a combat guidance and air surveillance system. As part of STRIL 60 it
9810-458: The pursued pilot the opportunity to either flee from combat or re-engage. However, the maneuver was very difficult and dangerous to use as anything more than a last-ditch effort, as without precise execution the aircraft's slow speed after the maneuver would make it an easy target. The maneuver originated with the Bråvalla Wing , the first one to receive the Saab 35 fighter plane. As the fighter
9919-407: The radar to lock onto the target, or breaking the target lock if already established. There is no available documentation of this being tested beyond theory. While the cobra maneuver may appear to be useful to force a pursuer to overshoot, the tactic would almost never be employed in any active threat scenario for a variety of reasons. The most obvious of these is the extreme loss of speed . Assuming
10028-469: The secrecy of the Cold War era and other factors, the Swedish cobra was largely unknown to the world until some former Saab 35 and 37 pilots wrote about it years later in books and articles, long after the Soviets had been credited with its discovery. As Sweden exported the Saab 35 Draken , so was the cobra maneuver. Fighter variants of the Saab 35 were exported to both the Finnish Air Force and
10137-440: The stick, artificial forces were generated by a q-feel system. The Draken was also fitted with a three-axis autopilot . The fuselage of the Draken consisted of two sections, front and rear, joined by bolts. The forward section, which was integral with the intake ducts and neighbouring wing structure, accommodates the fire-control radar , cockpit, nose undercarriage , integral fuel tanks and various systems. The rear portion, which
10246-443: The technique around 1961–1963. The Swedish pilots soon considered how to use this move in combat to get a pursuing aircraft to overshoot, putting it in a perfect position for a riposte , and it was not long until it was proven viable during mock dogfights. In real combat, depending on the situation and the execution of the maneuver, it could be used to confuse the enemy by making it lose the target or to overshoot, which would allow
10355-469: The type being fighter wing F13, stationed at Norrköping . During March 1960, the Drakens of unit F13 participated in a three-day long exercise, flying by night and day while operating under a state of "highest readiness" throughout. According to Flight International, the introduction to service of the J 35A was "very smooth", and that the scramble and turn-round times had been found to be "most satisfactory". By
10464-419: The type, Saab produced a small number of twin-seat J 35C trainer aircraft, the first of which having been completed during December 1959. During 1959, an improved air defence fighter model, designated as the J 35B, was developed, which featured improved performance and equipment over the J 35A. Among other things, it was powered by an improved engine fitted with an enlarged afterburner, a redesigned rear fuselage,
10573-657: The type, the Draken was phased out of Swedish service in December 1999, although the aircraft has since remained operational in limited numbers within both military and civilian roles. All Drakens functioned as interceptors with limited air-to-ground capability; the sole exception to this rule was the Danish Drakens, which functioned as strike aircraft and were capable of carrying a mixture of AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missiles , electronic countermeasures , and increased internal and external fuel storage. The Danish Drakens were
10682-603: Was adopted by other wings over time, so was the maneuver. The Scania Wing apparently called the maneuver "Wacka", which has no real meaning in Swedish. Sweden effectively shared borders with the Soviet Union over the Baltic Sea , so both sides regularly flew into the international space between the two. In the event, the Saab 35s regularly intercepted and escorted Soviet planes away from Swedish airspace. Sometimes these encounters would result in non-combat dogfights , which were either playful or threatening in nature. Apparently,
10791-410: Was also the first Swedish aircraft fitted with a 'control data system' ( Swedish : styrdatasystem ) which allowed ground-control to send digital orders to the aircraft. These orders were then stored in the aircraft's computers so the pilot could read the order several times and didn't have to memorize the content. The radar on the J 35B was a Swedish developed radar from LME designated PS-03/A. It
10900-522: Was connected to separate circuits. As a weight-saving measure, the hydraulic systems would operate at a line pressure of 210 kp /cm (20.6 MPa ), which would be greater than double the pressure used in the earlier Saab 29 Tunnan . Propulsion was provided by a single Svenska Flygmotor RM6B/C turbojet engine, a licence-built model of the Rolls-Royce Avon 200/300 engine (also known as Avon Mk.48A and Mk.60). A ram turbine , positioned under
11009-489: Was derived from the appearance of the prototype, like a paper kite, when seen from above. The number "35" comes from the aircraft's Swedish Air Force-designation: "flygplan 35" (fpl 35), meaning “aeroplane 35”. Depending on the given role, the aircraft received a prefix to indicate its type, the most common being "J 35" to indicate "jaktflygplan" (pursuit-aircraft), the Swedish term for fighter aircraft. As jet fighter technology developed after World War II, Sweden foresaw
11118-456: Was fought between two planes in Swedish service. In this case, a Saab 35 Draken was pursued by a Saab 37 Viggen . The Draken suddenly performed a cobra maneuver and the Viggen overshot it. Existing material of this mock dogfight does not cover the elements of the engagement before and after the maneuver in detail, which would be useful in assessing its usefulness in modern combat. The pilots say that
11227-544: Was handed over to the Austrian Air Force by 1987. These Drakens was initially been armed solely with two 30mm air-to-air cannons , which have proved to be inadequate. This was due to a "missile ban" which stemmed from the Austrian State Treaty of 1955 . By 1991, with the start of the Yugoslavian Civil War to its neighbor down south. There were numerous airplace violations along the southern border caused by
11336-437: Was initially planned to be designated J 35B1 , before being renamed to just J 35B in January 1960. 72 J 35B1 were ordered on February 28, 1958. 25 of these were to receive the 25 Saab 35A front sections left over from the Saab 35C conversion, but modified to Saab 35B standard. Due to manufacturing issues, delivery delays occurred for some J 35B subsystems, resulting in that the J 35B initially being delivered with only parts of
11445-618: Was initially planned to be designated S 35B2 , before being renamed to S 35E in January 1960. In 1958 the SAF planned to order 60 J 35B2 (J 35D) fighters in November 1960, which were intended to be converted to S 35B2 (S 35E) reconnaissance aircraft at a later date. In the end, 30 S 35E were produced as new aircraft (35902–35931) and delivered between July 1965 to May 1966 as series 1, while 28 S 35E were converted from J 35D (35932–35959) and delivered between October 1966 to January 1968 as series 2. Two more aircraft, S 35E (35901) and S 35E (35960) were also converted from Davids but never delivered to
11554-400: Was manufactured as a single piece alongside the rest of the inner wing, contained the engine and afterburner, bag-type fuel tanks, armament, main landing gear, and other systems. The flight control surfaces consisted of a rudder , along with inboard and outboard elevons , the outer sections being fitted with mass-balance weights. Each surface was operated by a tandem hydraulic jack, which
11663-527: Was superior and more advanced compared to the French PS-02 used on the J 35A. The gunsight was an advanced radar gunsight developed by Saab for both the J 35B and J 35D called S-7A-2. It used data from, among others, the aircraft's yaw and pitch axis, as well as the PS-03/A radar. It was specifically designed for head-on attacks with air-to-air rockets , something the J 35A did not have access too. Weaponry on
11772-492: Was the first Western European-built combat aircraft with true supersonic capability to enter service and the first fully supersonic aircraft to be deployed in Western Europe. Designwise it was one of, if not the first, combat aircraft designed with double delta wings, being drawn up by early 1950. The unconventional wing design also had the side effect of making it the first known aircraft to be capable of and perform
11881-515: Was the first to perform the maneuver in that aircraft in practice. Viktor Pugachev was the first to publicly demonstrate the maneuver in the Su-27 aerobatics display at the Le Bourget airshow of 1989. The tactic was previously unknown to the public and it was quickly named after Pugachev. There are several derivatives of the cobra which all initiate similarly, but end differently. In the cobra climb,
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