SAAB J29G - An Israeli Barrel

**Spinners** · October 31, 2022

SAAB J29G - 117 Squadron, Israeli Air Force, 1967

During 1956 and 1957 SAAB converted 308 J 29B and J 29E aircraft to J 29F's. In late 1957, with the imminent entry into service of the J 35A Draken, the Swedish Government declared that 40 J 29F's could be offered for export to the Israeli Government who had already made tentative enquiries about the type. Despite having only recently been upgraded the aircraft were overhauled by SAAB to emerge as J 29G's with new Israeli specified inboard missile pylons initially for the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile (which had entered service with the US Navy in 1956) but also suitable for the proposed indigenous Shafrir-1 air-to-air missile. Entering service with 117 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force in October 1958 the J 29G's equipped two squadrons (117 and 119) before being retired from service in 1968.