Saab and Embraer together with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) have successfully completed the certification campaign for the aerial refueling of the Gripen E, locally known as the J-39E, by the KC-390M multi-role transport aircraft.
The tests took place at the Gripen Flight Test Center at Embraer’s facilities in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, and were conducted by FAB’s aerospace research center DCTA.
In several test flights, engineers and test pilots from Saab, Embraer and the FAB checked different flight attitudes, speeds and altitudes. The KC-390M proved to be an “extremely stable tanker with a favorable wake vortex profile, while the Gripen E was able to respond precisely to refueling thanks to modern fly-by-wire control,” as stated in a joint press release from the company.
The campaign had two main objectives: On the one hand, to qualify the Gripen E as an air-to-air refueling receiver – a key step in confirming the jet’s flight behavior, structural resilience and stability. And secondly, to demonstrate the full compatibility of both types over the entire flight envelope of the KC-390M – including refueling at high speed as well as day and night.
With the successful in-flight refueling, the operational range of the Gripen E will increase significantly, while the interoperability of both state-of-the-art FAB platforms will be further strengthened. For the Brazilian Air Force, which operates both types, the interaction is a strategic advantage.
“The successful campaign shows the high level of integration of all teams involved and marks a new operational range standard for the Gripen E,” emphasizes Mikael Olsson, Head of Flight Test at Saab.
Embraer also sees the results as confirmation: According to COO Walter Pinto Júnior, the KC-390M can be converted into a tanker in just a few hours and thus offers unique flexibility worldwide. FAB program manager Colonel George Luiz Guedes de Oliveira speaks of a “cross-border success” that combines Swedish technology, Brazilian engineering skills and the operational expertise of the air force.
The certificates are now sent to the Swedish Military Aviation Authority (SE-MAA) and then to the Brazilian certification institute IFI. The air refueling capability will only be officially certified once they have been checked.
The FAB carried out the tests under the name “Operation Samaúma” – with around 40 specialists involved. This makes Brazil one of the few nations that can develop, test and verify aerial refueling systems entirely on its own.
Here for more news about Embraer, here to further news about Saab and here for more news about the Brazilian armed forces.
