The Lansen existed in a handful of variants after the P1150 prototype. This included the A 32A ground attack and maritime strike variant of which some 287 examples were produced between 1955 and 1957. These airframes were aptly-armed with a quadruple battery of 20mm Bofors cannons in the nose and this armament could be further augmented by her inherent provisions for air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles or rocket pods, the latter fitting 75mm unguided multi-purpose rockets. The A 32A model was officially retired from Swedish service in 1978.
The J32B originally began as a dedicated bad weather/night-fighter but was eventually categorized as an "all-weather" mount consistent with like-fighters of her time. Between 1958 and 1960, some 118 examples followed the initial pair of prototypes. Unlike the A 32A series, the J32B was formidably armed with 4 x 30mm ADEN cannons and held provisions for infrared- or radar-guided missiles in the form of the Rb 24 ( the license-produced American AIM-9 Sidewinder short-ranged air-to-air missile). The missiles could also give way to the carrying of rocket pods as in the A 32A "attack" model. Beyond its improved armament capabilities, the J 32B was also set with a more powerful RM 6A series engine, this essentially a licensed copy of the British Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 47A series. The J 32B would serve Swedish forces up until 1973.
The S 32C was a special development of the Lansen intended for photographic reconnaissance sorties. The S 32C was based on the existing A 32A airframe though outfitted with a pair of SKa 17 and a pair of SKa 18 series cameras with an extended-range version of the PS-432/A radar system. Some 45 aircraft of this type were ultimately delivered.
As with most other airframes having reached their maturity, the Lansen was modified to operated in the inglorious role of target tug under the designation of J 32D. These pilotless aircraft help to serve new generations of Swedish pilots in the art of aerial gunnery and missile tracking/engagement. Amazingly, the J 32D lasted in Swedish service up until 1997 - becoming one of the final uses of the Lansen series.
Also retired in 1997 was the J 32E, a dedicated electronic warfare / electronic countermeasures variant modified from existing J 32B models. These airframes were fitted with a variety of specialized equipment for the role including an onboard jamming system for tackling both land- and sea-based radar beams. Some fourteen J 32B models were converted for the role.
A pair of proposed Lansen designs were also developed in the mid-1950s, neither of these, however, were ever contracted for production by Swedish authorities. This included the J 32AD day fighter and the J 32U improved fighter. The J 32AD was drawn up in 1953 as a possible "bridge" solution between the outgoing Saab J29 Tunnan fighter and the upcoming Saab J35 Draken fighter for the Swedish Air Force. The J 32AD would have retained a powerful armament loadout of 4 x 20mm cannons but also included a single 30mm ADEN cannon into the mix. Missiles, of course, would also have been part of the forte concerning the J 32AD. The airframe was furthered lightened over that of the original for improved performance specs. However, the Swedish government instead elected to purchase 120 examples of the excellent - and proven - British Hawker Hunter fighter for the time being.
The J32U was designed in 1954 to incorporate still better performance specifications and capabilities. As such, the airframe sported a revised wing design coupled to a more powerful Rolls-Royce RA 19R series turbojet engine. Like the J 32AD, the J 32U was not selected for production.
In all, 450 Lansen aircraft were produced from the period of 1953 to 1959. As Sweden became the only operator of the Lansen, she fielded the system in some quantity across no fewer than thirteen of her Flygvapnet squadrons, these being F1, F3, F4, F6, F7, F11, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17 and F21.
It was reported that, as recently as May of 2010, one of two remaining operational Lansens was used to take airborne ash samples in response to the volcanic eruption in Iceland that led to the grounding of thousands of commercial flights across Europe. These two aircraft, generally held in reserve, currently work in a similar role with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority to monitor high-altitude radiation levels.
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