The Saab 17 was a Swedish bomber-reconnaissance aircraft.

The project first started at the end of the 1930s as the L 10 by ASJA, but after the merger with SAAB in 1937 it was renamed Saab 17. The wings were reinforced to make it possible to use it as a dive bomber. Since there was a shortage of engines the planes were flown to the destination where the engine was removed and reused for the next delivery. The plane was also made in three versions with different engines. The B 17A used a Swedish built Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp, the B 17B a British Bristol Mercury XXIV licence-built in Poland, and the B 17C an Italian Piaggio P.XI.[1] The aircraft could be fitted with wheels, skis or floats. A unique feature of the Saab 17 was its use of the extended landing gear assembly, with its large covers, as dive brakes.

The first test flight was on 18 May 1940 and first deliveries to the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) were in 1942. However, the development of jets meant it had a short service history. When the planes ended service in 1947-1950 46 of them were sold to Ethiopia where they were in service until 1968. Two B 17As were sold to Finland in 1959 and 1960, serving as target tugs in the Finnish Air Force. However, both were soon damaged and removed from service.
Versions

B 17A - Bomber version with Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine; total production: 132
B 17B - Bomber version with British Bristol Mercury XXIV engine; total production: 55
S 17BL - Reconnaissance version on landing gear; total production: 21
S 17BS - Reconnaissance version on floats, total production: 38
B 17C - Bomber version with Piaggio PXI engine; total production: 77

The SAAB 17 had a total production run of 323 aircraft.

Role Bomber, Reconnaissance
Manufacturer SAAB
First flight 18 May 1940
Introduction 1942
Retired 1955, Sweden
1968, Ethiopia
Status Retired
Primary users Sweden
Ethiopia
Finland
Austria
Produced 1941-1944
Number built 323