The SAAB Viggen was the first to use the close coupled canard delta configuration, and the reason given for choosing this layout was,
The canard arrangement has notable advantages in achieving a good field performance and weight-lifting abilities without resort to complex highlift "flappery." Lift/drag ratios are better by virtue of the fact that the foreplane, with drooped elevators to raise the nose on take-off, is providing positive lift, rather than lift being partially killed by the raised elevators or elevons of conventional wing-before-tailplane or tailless delta aircraft. There are much reduced interference effects between the mainplane and the smaller surface with a canard than with a conventional configuration.
The Swedes disperse their aircraft and use motorways, hence the interest was primarily in STOL performance.
This paper by U. Claréus, Project Manager, JAS 39 Aerodynamics, Saab Aerospace, may be what you are after.
MACH Aviation Magazine - på webben
Brian Abraham, ask him, he knows.
The flattery is misdirected Lyman. I do enjoy digging for the info in hope of guiding some one to a possible answer though.
