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As the jet era started, Sweden foresaw the need for a jet fighter that could intercept bombers at high altitude and also successfully engage fighters. Although other interceptors such as the US Air Force's F-104 Starfighter were being conceived during the same period, Saab's "Draken" would have to undertake a combat role unique to Sweden. Other demanding requirements were the capability to operate from reinforced public roads used as part of wartime airbases, and for refuelling/rearming to be carried out in no more than ten minutes, by conscripts with minimal training.
... A ram turbine, under the nose, provided emergency power and the engine had a built-in emergency starter unit. The Draken could deploy a drag chute to reduce its landing distance.
Bigger helis like the Mi-8 (not NATO, but too good to ignore) are only a short ways down the road so I'd hold out for those.
You might as well hold out a few more years then, and wait for the CH-53 and the CH-47. Hell the CH-47 came out around the same time as the Mi-8 anyhow. Both much better aircraft, than the Hip, at least in my opinion and my experience...
But for Air Assault you will want to stick with the UH-1s anyhow.
Don't take me wrong, the Hip is not a bad aircraft. Used all over the world.
Yje Saab 35 is much like the EE Lightning its great if your protecting your back yard it has no rangeWith the right modifications Drakens are sufficient in the strike role, and A-4's are no slouches either.
I don't know, never liked the Phantom as a multirole aircraft. Sure it's fine for intercepting bombers and it's passable as a strike aircraft but it's a miserable dogfighter that has to rely on boom-and-zoom tactics to hold its own against MiG-21's. We succeeded with it over Vietnam based on the strength of our pilots and superiority in numbers, not because the F-4 was great as a fighter.
Plus it's not a cheap plane to maintain or operate, no '60s frontline fighter jet truly was but the Draken (like a lot of other Saab designs) has much going for it if you're waging a defensive war and have to make do with limited resources and manpower, and its service history shows it could be adapted to other roles with at least some level of success. You can make a good dogfighter drop bombs, but you can't make a big, heavy interceptor and bomb truck a good dogfighter, at least not with the level of tech available in 1960.
France was selling no Mirage III's in 1960, they weren't even operational in the Armee de L'Air till July 61. Though South Africa and Israel put in orders for them in late 60. First Israel aircraft delivered in April 1962.Not so sure about that.
France sold the Mirage III and other military hardware to anyone with cash in hand. IMO it only makes sense to build your own if you can do it cheaper then foreign made weapons of equal quality.
Not only that, but relying on an external source for your military hardware means that you are reliant on that supplier being your friend even in times of international distress, shifting alliances etc......Saving a dollar is way down on the priority list when you're talking national survival.
The original scenario is these aircraft have to be on the scene and in sevice by 01,01, 1960.
UH-1 (in service date 1958 ).
Ordered into Production - HU-1A Iroquois: March 1960