The AJ-37 Viggen was one of the best strike airplanes before being replaced by the JAS Grippen, which was developed during the Cold War.
Although it is no F-35 or F-22, as a 4th generation strike fighter optimized for ground attack and loaded with features to do just that. Like the short take-off and landing (STOL), many of its features were vital to its role as a ground attack plane with the proper heavy-duty landing gear.
Sweden's Air Warrior
Viggen was developed to match the best of the best in a hot 'Cold War' with several variants that made a reputation as an excellent strike aircraft, despite its cutting edge design, unlike other jets.
Several air forces bought the AJ-37 and AJS-37 that emphasized the strike variant; Austria, Denmark, and Finland particularly chose it. The Swedish jet would have been formidable for the Russian Migs and Sukhois of the day, reported 19Fortyfive.
This Swedish aircraft served in the Swedish Air Force and the Austrian, Danish, and Finnish Air Forces.
According to Military Wiki, aircraft variants are the patrol, trainer, and reconnaissance variants but tuning it for ground attack with systems like advanced navigation systems, radar for ground attack, and ability to navigate at low altitudes, included is top notch HUD for popping up assaults.
Improved Take-off, Landing Features
Most planes require a long runway for take-off, but the AJ-37 Viggen and its variants have STOL features to use short runways. It benefits the airframe to operate from any frontline airbase, cited Aerospace Research Central.
Included is a thrust reverser to allow the plane to land in about 500 meters; designers have developed its airframe to land and avoid flaring even at low velocities for less damage on makeshift airfields and roads.
Faster Sorties
Landing the plane and rearming it quickly is good thinking, especially since more sorties mean less time on the ground, and attacking enemy forces is a smart design choice. Other fighters lack this facility that would be critical in actual combat.
The ground crew has been at 20-minute or under, which allows the Swedish Air Force to conduct a fast and dynamic air campaign. The Viggen could do five sorties per day too.
Supports Various Attack Weapons
The AJ-37 could be armed with various weapons for air to air and air to the ground, even carry ship killer missiles and special munitions like cluster types in the strike AJS variant.
Using them for ship attacks and air-to-air missile kills makes the Viggen a lethal fighter. Later the AGM-65 Maverick was fitted with a radar display for the air-to-ground missile.
All the weapons systems have synched to avionics to assist the pilot that would optimize the armament, with support for various ground attack weapons. It made the pilot's jobs easier to hit the targets.
Moreover, an excellent engine powers fast and low-level attacks at low-level flight, also the fastest. The AJ-37 Viggen is capable of its time, and the strike variant would give the F-22 or F-35 a run for its money. Its airframe had its problem, but problems are typical for any airframe.
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