With the presentation of the first Gripen E fighter jet produced in Brazil, Saab Saab, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) have reached an important milestone. The rollout ceremony took place on March 25 at the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto (state of São Paulo) and underscores Brazil’s emergence as one of the few countries in the world that can manufacture modern fighter aircraft itself.
The event was attended by high-ranking representatives from politics, the military and industry, including Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro Filho and the Commander of the Air Force, Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno.
For Saab, the program is much more than just a procurement project. “The first Gripen manufactured in Brazil represents a partnership based on trust, long-term prospects and genuine industrial cooperation,” emphasized Saab CEO Micael Johansson. Embraer also points to the strategic value: “The establishment of national production capacities for a modern supersonic jet will strengthen Brazil’s technological sovereignty in the long term.
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Local production with a global supply chain
Final assembly takes place at the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto, embedded in an international supply chain. This includes aerostructures, which are manufactured at Saab in São Bernardo do Campo. A total of 14 further aircraft based on this model are to be produced in Brazil under the existing contract.
Before being handed over, the jets undergo extensive functional and flight tests before being transferred to the operational units. Several Gripen E are already in service with the 1st Air Defense Group (1st GDA) at the Anápolis base, where they also perform Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) tasks to protect the airspace over the capital region.
Last November, the Brazilian Air Force also deployed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) meteor missiles from MBDA with the new Gripen E – and both missiles both missiles hit their targets accurately at long range.
Modern multi-role combat aircraft
The Gripen E is designed as a multi-role capable combat aircraft for air defense, reconnaissance and air attack. Modern sensors, avionics and weapon systems as well as a network-centric architecture with sensor fusion enable its use in highly complex combat environments. In particular, the ability to exchange data quickly within formations is a key advantage.
The program is based on a contract from 2014, which provides for the procurement of 36 aircraft – including 28 single-seat Gripen E and 8 two-seat Gripen F aircraft. deliveries began in 2020 11 aircraft have been handed over to the FAB so far.
With local production now underway, the program is gaining further strategic importance – not only for Brazil, but also for Saab, which is increasingly positioning the country as an industrial partner and export hub.
Here for more news about Saab, here to further news about the Brazilian armed forces and here for more news about Embraer.
