Shipbucket

We could play around abit and give the hustler a decent bombay, internatal fuel load etc...that could fun. A more conventinal approach...maybe a FFVS licensened built B-58

What do you think about this deal.
In the late 1960s-early 70s the US wants to withdraw the B-58 from service due the airframes don't like the stress of the low level strikerole. Sweden decides to buy a number of surplus airframes and give them an upgrade with a new type om comformal pod/ bombay/fueltank, radar, ESM/ ECM and missile capailty with either 8x RB 04 - later rb 15 or 4x rb 08. They are also given capability to carry conventional bombs and some avionics upgrade.

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You could rework it for a conventional bomb bay. It would take time and money, but it could be done. Worst case you turn it into a fuel bay. It could be done. The Privateer! Yep, the airframe just wasn't designed for low level ops. It would also give the Soviets fits about having super sonic bombers that close to the border. Alas to get the Swedes the planes they have to open up and admit that they are a part of NATO.
Don't forget that they have the wing-root pylons. That's four 4 meter long, one tone munitions hard points.

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It could be argued that the Hustler was an 'odd ball' in USAF service, being based in Spain to get the range, but still with some good airframe hours before being forced into low level op's. So maybe yes; in this scenario Sweden is a favoured ally, having fought as part of the Allies in WWII; then the Hustler becomes available; plenty of joint work, refurbishment, new engines? new avionics, and new pods with ssm's designed to strike at Soviet naval forces off the Nowegian coast. If it worked it would give the Russian Northern fleet a serious cause for concern, and by that an added edge to NATO.

BTW. Australia was offered surplus B-47's while the FIII was being sorted; wisely they leased F-4's instead. So don't forget that there were a very large fleet of mothballed B-47's available as well - close to the TU-16.

The Hustler was in many ways an interim solution for an operational concept that went away (that of the high speed high altitude bomber). The F-111 came out of the long range fleet defense fighter need and the USAF desire for a tactical strike plane that could hit targets in Europe from the continental US, and only late took on the low end of the strategic bomber force.
The Australians were also offered B-58s in the competition for their strike aircraft. I could see the Swedish order being from the same production batch as the Australian order. It gets the planes built later, and to NATO export standards.

Do the Swedes go for the bomb in this time line?

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interesteing comparison to Australia.

Regarding the "bomb" I think it is needed concerning the high profile conservative goverment in cold war Sweden. The main launch platform for nukes are submarines with SLBM and SLCMs. If the B-58 can carry swedish nukes are classified

WIP B-58 in swedish colors.

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I'm not sold on the nose. I'm also not sure the pod would be fully integrated as you have it . I could see a more conformal pod being used, but even then we would see the seams.

I've got a pair of good resources here, and here.

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Ok....I have to rework the nose and cockpit - to large windscreens.

There are seems, the darker colored line shows the seem between the mainbody and weapons/ ECM/ fueltank.

My source

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What about the SAAB A-26?

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Yes! this looks the business; and will only improve. I'm also assuming that this type would serve both in the Naval service (Marinen), and with the Air Force? If we are looking at nuclear weapons there could be a serious turf war between the services.

The B-58 will serve with the Navy as a martime strike aircraft, flying from bases like F4 at Frösön in the north of Sweden, close to the Norwegian border, launching numerous of cruise missiles aganist the red fleet if they try to break out in the Atlantic. A a first line of defence before own and NATO carriers arrive

The airforce realies on Avro Vulcans and SAAB A-36 bombers and ICBMs for the strategic role. Nukes are launched by submarines. The armed forces tries to avoid lots of nukes on home soil because they make a potiential first strike target therefor they operate from the St.Bart based SSBN force.

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