A32A

This page is about the Swedish strike aircraft A32A. For other versions, see SAAB 32 Lansen (Family).

A32A

A29B

AJ37

A32A

A29B

AJ37

Sweden

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.0	9.0	9.0

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:220 000

Purchase:620 000

Description

The A32A was designed and developed by the Swedish company SAAB. Development began in 1948 and it first flew in 1952. Deliveries to the Swedish air force, Flygvapnet, began in 1954. In Flygvapnet, it was used as a ground-attack aircraft, being able to carry a large array of different bombs and unguided rockets as well as four 20 mm Akan m/49 cannons. It remained in service until 1978 but never saw use in combat. Powered by a license-built Rolls-Royce Avon engine, locally designated the RM5, it was able to break the sound barrier in a dive, thus becoming the first Swedish aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound.

Introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind", the SAAB A32A Lansen is a very slow and janky aircraft. But since it is an attacker, it does not need great agility. It has ballistics computers for bombs, rockets, and its cannons. In air RB/SB, it can use its 600 kg mb m/50 bombs to destroy a full base, or destroy several ground targets in air RB. It lacks flares but it has access to two chaff pods, which may be useful against early SARH missiles. Unlike the J32, it lacks missiles, but it can still be used in air to air combat, its radar is quite powerful and can be used to locate targets through clouds and fog, and its four 20 mm cannons have a very decent ammo pool. It also has good energy retention so you can energy trap MiG-21s and other delta wing fighters with ease.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m1 094 km/h

Turn time34 s

Max altitude12 500 m

EngineSvenska Flygmotor RM5A

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight14 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,088	1,084	12500	34.6	35.6	44.7	41.8	900
Upgraded	1,101	1,094		33.6	34.0	66.2	55.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1160	450	524	491	320	~11	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 850	< 600	< 600	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Svenska Flygmotor RM5A		1	8,322 kg		297 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	44m fuel
1,350 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		9,151 kg	9,568 kg	10,191 kg	11,084 kg	12,992 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	44m fuel	MGW
Stationary	3,424 kgf	4,633 kgf	0.51	0.48	0.45	0.42	0.36
Optimal	3,424 kgf (0 km/h)	4,908 kgf (1,160 km/h)	0.54	0.51	0.48	0.44	0.38

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural1 160 km/h

Gear450 km/h

• 10 mm Steel - Behind the pilot and radioman seats.
• 50 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen.
• 15 mm Steel - In front of forward pilot.
• 5 mm Steel - Below forward pilot.
• 5 mm Steel - Just in the upper front of the instrument panel.
• Self-sealing fuel tanks - 8 in each wing, 4 in the fuselage.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 944 → 4 192

RB8 765 → 12 481

SB9 894 → 14 089

Total cost of modifications194 600

305 000

Talisman cost2 700

Crew training175 000

Experts620 000

Aces2 600

Research Aces1 010 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 330 / 600 %

226 / 226 / 226 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 270 Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 460 Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 460 Wings repair Research: 8 100 Cost: 13 000 340 Engine Research: 8 100 Cost: 13 000 340 Cover Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 880		Chaff Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 270 akan_m47_belt_pack Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 270 m/61 Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 270 m/49B Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 270 m/58 Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 270 m/40(250) Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 460 m/51 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 460 G-suit Research: 8 100 Cost: 13 000 340 akan_m47_new_gun Research: 8 100 Cost: 13 000 340 m/41 Research: 8 100 Cost: 13 000 340 m/49 Research: 8 100 Cost: 13 000 340 EFS Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 880 m/50(600) Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 880

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The A32A is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm Akan m/49 cannons, nose-mounted (180 rpg = 720 total)

Suspended armament

The A32A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
120 kg sb m/61 bombs	1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	1	1	1	1
250 kg mb m/50 bombs		1			1		1		1			1
500 kg mb m/56 bombs					1		1		1
600 kg mb m/50 bombs					1		1		1
Brandbomb m/58 incendiary bombs					1		1		1
hprak m/49 rockets	1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	1	1	1	1
psrak m/49B rockets	2	2	2	2	2	2		2	2	2	2	2	2
srak m/51 rockets	2	2	2	2	2	2		2	2	2	2	2	2
Large calibre chaff		464										464
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 1,850 kg

Default weapon presets
Without load 24 x psrak m/49B rockets 24 x srak m/51 rockets 12 x hprak m/49 rockets 12 x 120 kg sb m/61 bombs (1,440 kg total) 5 x 250 kg mb m/50 bombs (1,250 kg total) 3 x 500 kg mb m/56 bombs (1,500 kg total) 3 x 600 kg mb m/50 bombs (1,800 kg total) 3 x Brandbomb m/58 incendiary bombs 928 x large calibre chaff

Usage in battles

In Air Realistic Battles, the A32A can make very effective use of its available bombs. The 3 x 600 kg mb m/50 bombs deliver 480 kg of explosive mass each, which is more than enough to destroy a base at its tier. Even though the A32A has mediocre acceleration, it can generally drop its bombs on at least one base, if sufficient at avoiding Su-7s and/or Harriers. From there onwards, it's recommended to either return to the airfield, or pick off targets using the tactic described below.

An alternative route is the traditional fighter route. The aircraft has mediocre manoeuvrability compared to its tier, but has quite decent energy retention, and can be effective if used as a boom and zoom aircraft, maintaining speed as much as possible. Unlike the fighter variant, the J32, the A32 does not have missiles. This makes it entirely reliant on 4 x 20 mm cannons, which are sufficient in taking down anything that they hit. Be warned, the cannons have a finnicky placement on the bottom of the aircraft, and take some getting used to. The elevator will also lock up at high speeds, which can be a problem.

It is recommended to keep or bring all dogfights at lower altitudes. The A32A performs best relative to other aircraft closer to the deck. When spaded, the aircraft has enough manoeuvrability to allow a decent pilot to reverse pursuing hostiles and score victories.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good roll rate
• Fowler flap design provides excellent lift at low speeds
• 4 nose-mounted 20 mm cannons with high rate of fire
• Has a wide range of bombs and rockets loadouts, beneficial in ground RB
• Radar warning receiver
• Can equip Chaff (useful in Tank RB)

Cons:

• Mediocre manoeuvrability and acceleration, almost every opponent it faces can outmanoeuvre and out-accelerate it
• Very inefficient airbrake design that requires high angle-of-attack or aggressive banking to slow down
• Large target making it easy to get hit
• Can be difficult to land as landing flaps rip above 300 km/h
• Cannons do not have great damage output, requiring precise aim
• Lacks flares
• Lacks air-to-air missiles

History

The A32A Lansen was the initial ground-attack variant of the Saab 32 'Lansen' attacker / fighter aircraft. Designed to replace the obsolete propeller-powered Saab 18, the aircraft's design was influenced by late-war German aircraft designs such as the P. 1101, P.1110, P.1111 and P.1112. The aircraft featured a conventional low-mounted swept-wing with a sleek fuselage housing a two-man crew, while the later J 32 fighter variant had a single crewmember. The A32A was introduced in 1955 with a total of 287 aircraft built for the attack role, serving until the end of the 1970s.

Following the end of the Second World War, the primary Swedish ground-attack aircraft was the obsolete Saab 18, a propeller-driven aircraft initially designed in the late 1930s. The initial design was influenced by late-war German aircraft designs such as the P. 1101, P.1110, P.1111 and P.1112, whose blueprints were given to Saab by former Messerschmitt engineers who fled to Switzerland. Among these engineers was Hermann Behrbohm, who would become a key contributor to the Saab 29, 32 and J 35 programs.

A32 from the F17 air wing, 1960

In terms of design, the A32A had a sleek fuselage with a low-mounted wing swept 35 degrees. The aircraft was powered by a Svenska Flygmotor RM5, which was a license-produced version of the Rolls-Royce Avon jet engine. This engine provided the A 32A with a thrust-to-weight ratio of ~0.3, while the later J32B fighter featured a heavily-upgraded RM6 engine producing significantly-more thrust. From the outset, the A32A was designed to house significant amounts of electronic warfare and weapons systems. The aircraft carried four 20 mm Oerlikon aircraft cannons in the nose, and could be fitted with unguided weapons including rockets and bombs up to 600 kg. The A32A could also carry two Rb 04 anti-ship missiles, one of the first cruise missiles to enter service.

In total, 287 A32A Lansens were produced for the Swedish Air Force between 1955 and 1957, replacing the Saab 18. The aircraft proved to be fairly reliable in service in terms of both aircraft and weapons systems. Additionally, the A32A was intended to carry nuclear weapons as part of Sweden's nuclear program; these plans were shelved with the end of Sweden's nuclear program. The A32A was Sweden's last dedicated ground-attack aircraft; the last airframes were phased out in the 1970s in favour of the AJ 37 Viggen.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the A32A from live.warthunder.com.

Images

• 

  A32A

Videos

The Shooting Range #356 - Metal Beasts section at 00:26 discusses the A32A.

Nothing To Offer! A32A! - Sweden - Review! - Jengar

A32A Lansen: Scandinavian Striker

See also

Related development

• SAAB 32 Lansen (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• [Wikipedia] Saab 32 Lansen

Swedish Aeroplane Company Ltd. (SAAB)
	Pre-SAAB: SA / ASJA
SA 'Jaktfalken'	J6B
SAAB 17	B17A · B17B · S17BS
SAAB 18	B18A · B18B · T18B · T18B (57)
SAAB 21	J21A-1 · J21A-2 · A21A-3 · J21RA · A21RB
SAAB 29 'Tunnan'	J29A · A29B · J29D · J29F
SAAB 32 'Lansen'	J32B · A32A · A32A Röd Adam
SAAB 35 'Draken'	J35A · J35D
SAAB 37 'Viggen'	JA37C · JA37D · JA37DI · JA37DI F21 · AJ37 · AJS37
SAAB 39 'Gripen'	JAS39A · JAS39C
SAAB 105	SK60B · SAAB-105G
License Production	B3C (Ju 86K)
Export	SAAB-105OE · J35XS · ▄JAS39C · ◔JAS39EBS HU C

Sweden jet aircraft
Fighters	J21RA
	J29A · A29B · J29D · J29F
	J32B
	J34
	J35A · J35D
	JA37C · JA37D · JA37DI · JA37DI F21
	JAS39A · JAS39C
Strike aircraft	A21RB
	A32A · A32A Röd Adam
	A28B
	AJ37 · AJS37
	SK60B · SAAB-105G
Export	SAAB-105OE
Finland	▄Vampire FB 52A · ▄MiG-21bis · Saab J35XS