The Draken J 35J was effectively a service life extension programme, which had been initiated as a result of the impending delivery of the new Saab JAS 39 Gripen having suffered several delays.
Draken J 35J var reelt en 'service life extension' (renovering med levetidsforlængelse) som blev fundet nødvendig efter at leverancen af den nye Saab JAS 39 Gripen havde lidt under adskillige forsinkelser.