In 1941, when the Flygvapen was equipped with a mixture of fighter aircraft of Italian and US origin, it was decided to initiate design and development of an indigenous aircraft in this category that would be suitable for use also in an attack role. The resulting design was of unusual configuration, being a cantilever low-wing monoplane having moderate wing sweep, with central fuselage nacelle to accommodate the pilot on an ejection seat and a rear-mounted powerplant in pusher configuration, twin booms extending aft from the wings with twin fins and rudders united by the tailplane with elevator, and retractable tricycle landing gear. The first of three Saab-21A prototypes was flown on 30 July 1943 and these, like a few early production aircraft, were powered by the imported Daimler-Benz DB 605; all subsequent production had a Swedish licence-built version of this engine.

When introduced into service in late 1945 as the J21A-1 the new type was the only pusher-engined fighter to become operational during World War II, being followed by the generally similar J21A-2 and, finally, by the A21A attack aircraft, these three versions being built to a total of 299 before production ended in 1948.

The A21A had the same armament as the J21A fighter, was equipped to carry rockets or light bombs on under-wing racks, and had provision for the installation of a ventral gun pack housing eight 13.2mm machine-guns.

3-View

A three-view drawing (731 x 1157)