These walk-around photos were taken at F11 Museum at Skavsta Airport outside Nyköping in 2022. They show two examples of the SAAB S 35E Draken — the dedicated photo-reconnaissance variant of one of Sweden's most iconic Cold War aircraft. The Draken's distinctive double-delta wing, developed entirely by SAAB during the 1950s, gave it exceptional performance and made it one of the most advanced fighter designs of its era. The S 35E was equipped with seven cameras — five in the nose and two in the inner wing — and was optimised for low- and high-altitude reconnaissance missions across the Baltic Sea. Only two wings operated the type: F 11 at Nyköping and F 21 in Luleå.
The indoor aircraft, 35916, was delivered to the Swedish Air Force in 1966 and served its entire career at F 11 in Nyköping. When reconnaissance operations at the wing ended in 1979 it was retired with around 1,500 flying hours, and remained at Skavsta. It was later taken over by the Swedish Air Force Museum and deposited at F11 Museum in 2008, where it is displayed with the Nyköping city coat of arms on its fin.
The outdoor aircraft, 35959, has an even richer history. Originally built as a J 35D fighter in 1963, it was converted to S 35E standard and re-numbered, entering service at F 11 in July 1967. It was one of four aircraft in the wing's farewell flight on 20 June 1979 — the last reconnaissance mission ever flown from F 11 — and subsequently served at the test centre at Malmen until 1984, accumulating a total of 1,618 flying hours. It is displayed outdoors with two underwing fuel tanks, representing the configuration used on long-range missions over the Baltic, sometimes flown at altitudes as low as 30 feet.