Saab 35 Draken fighter aircraft

The Saab 35 Draken is a legendary Swedish fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Saab between 1955 and 1974. Introduced to replace the Saab 29 Tunnan and Saab 32 Lansen, the Draken was a pioneer in aviation design, featuring a radical double-delta wing configuration that allowed for high-speed performance and excellent maneuverability.

Originating from the Swedish aerospace company Saab AB, the aircraft was designed specifically to meet the Cold War requirements of the Swedish Air Force. It was famously capable of performing the 'Cobra maneuver' and was designed to operate from public roads converted into temporary runways, a key part of Sweden's defensive strategy. Beyond Sweden, the Draken was exported to Austria, Denmark, and Finland.

The brand and manufacturing remain Swedish at their core. Saab AB, headquartered in Stockholm, is an independent global defense and security company. While it has historical ties to the Saab automobile brand, the aerospace entity remained a separate, domestically-owned powerhouse in the Nordic defense industry through the 21st century.