Avro Canada / Saab J-36C Pilen (Arrow)

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Avro Canada / Saab J-36C 'Pilen' - F21, Flygvapnet, 1975

 

The first flight of the Avro Canada CF-105 on March 28th, 1958 was a complete success even on the lower power of the Pratt & Whitney J75 engines and during subsequent evaluation flights company test pilot Jan Zurakowski encountered no major problems. However, the programme received a major blow in September 1958 when the American Bomarc surface-to-air missile system was bought and this seemed to signal the end of the line for the Arrow although the Canadian government insisted that a decision would be deferred until the following March. This deadline gave Avro Canada the impetus to seek a development partner but there was no interest from UK companies (whose government had declared that manned aircraft were obsolete the previous year in the infamous Sandys White Paper) whilst American companies knew that the chances of the Arrow entering USAF service were virtually nil as the F-106 was just beginning to replace the F-102 on the Convair production line and, beyond that, the future lay with Weapon System 202 (F-108) - a Mach 3 interceptor programme running parallel with Weapon System 110A (B-70).

 

In desparation, Avro Canada looked further afield and in January 1959 approached Saab on the basis that Sweden seemed to have similar requirements to Canada in terms of range and performance. With the outstanding Saab Draken entering production and scheduled to enter service the following year this seemed unlikely but, behind the scenes, senior Flygvapnet officials had expressed concerns over the Draken's single-engined overwater safety performance and unrefuelled range and hastily drafted a specification for Project 1299 for a twin-engined, radar-equipped, long-range all-weather fighter capable of reaching Mach 2.0 in level flight whilst operating from existing Swedish runways and designated sections of 'motorväg'. By early March 1959 a formal partnership backed by both Governments had been formed and although the development timescale was slowed down by the merger the Arrow was saved.

 

Within months, the American F-108 programme was cancelled and the USAF suddenly became interested in the Arrow as a follow-on programme to the F-106 eventually ordering 300 as the F-112A. Arrow production commenced in 1963 with the first aircraft off the Malton production line going to the Royal Canadian Air Force whilst the first aircraft off the newly-built Linköping production line went to the Swedish Flygvapnet in February 1965.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[+FastCargo]

Love that scheme!

[+whiteknight06604]

to me it looks like a 'what-if" Saab made a bomber in the same class as the Mirage IV

[+JonathanRL]

I think we might have gotten the Arrow as a Strike Bomber, since there is nothing wrong with the J-35s range. After all, we once had one over Liepaja, and not only did it get back, it also outran two MiG-29 Fulcrums :D

 

And yes, it is very similar to a real project, the Saab 36, a proposed nucelar strike bomber.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_36

Edited August 26, 2012 by JonathanRL

[PraetorH]

Was only a question of time until the first export Arrows pop up. Cheers!

Maybe I join the fray much later on... Got a lot to do, but I like Deltas.

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'Acro Delta' Arrows!