SAAB 18

The 'SAAB 18' was a twin-engine bomber designed for the Swedish Air Force.

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Variants

Operators

Specifications

B 18A

B 18B

References

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Design and development

Although designed in the 1930s, changes in requirements delayed the first flight until June 19, 1942.

Operational history

The aircraft entered service in 1944 and remained one of Sweden's frontline ground attack and reconnaissance platforms until it was replaced by jet-powered Tunnan and Lansen in 1958-1959. Around 240 SAAB 18 were built.

Variants

;Saab 18A
:Two prototypes only.
;B 18A
:The first production version, bomber aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial piston engines.
;S 18A
:Photo-reconnaissance version of modified B 18A with PS-18/A (license-built AN/APS-4) radar.
;Saab 18B
:One prototype only.
;B 18B
:Dive bomber version, powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 605B piston engines. First flight June 10, 1944.
;T 18B
:Ground attack version with 2 × 20 mm and 1 × 57 mm cannons, fitted with Rb 302 anti-ship missiles on an experimental basis.

Operators

;

★ Swedish Air Force

Specifications

B 18A

B 18B

References

★ Kopenhagen, W. (ed.) ''Das groβe Flugzeug-Typenbuch.'' Stuttgart: Transpress. 1987, ISBN 3-344-00162-0.

★ Donald David and Lake Jon (eds.). ''Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft.'' London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2.

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