The type that established Saab as the prime supplier of combat aircraft to Sweden’s Flygvapnet
When, in 1936, the Swedish government initiated a rapid expansion of the Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force), very few modern and combat-capable aircraft were in service. Plans were implemented for a total of 297 combat aircraft and 95 trainers to be acquired by 1943, with seven more wings to be established. However, Sweden lacked an indigenous aircraft manufacturing industry capable of designing and building modern types. Although licence agreements for Junkers Ju 86K medium bombers and Northrop 8A-1 light bombers had been signed, it was openly acknowledged that follow-on combat aircraft were to hail from the domestic industry.
By early 1937, companies including ASJA — which, since 1931, had produced various types of aircraft at its Linköping factory such as the DH82A Tiger Moth, Focke-Wulf Fw 44J Stieglitz and Hawker Hart — as well as Bofors and engine manufacturer Nohab all showed interest in supplying the required aeroplanes.
With ASJA and Bofors/Nohab being controlled by two highly competitive industrialists, Marcus Wallenberg and Axel Wenner-Gren, the solution was to form a holding company, AB Förenade Flyg…
