Brazil Joins Elite Club of Advanced Fighter Producers: First Home-Built Gripen E
3 days ago
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- #aircraft-production
- #brazil-sweden-partnership
- Saab and Embraer unveiled the first Gripen E fighter jet produced in Brazil at Embraer's Gavião Peixoto complex on March 25, attended by Brazilian President Lula and other officials.
- This milestone stems from a 2014 contract for 36 Gripen fighters (28 E and 8 F variants), with 11 delivered since 2020 and 14 more to follow domestic production.
- Saab CEO Micael Johansson emphasized the partnership's strength, aiming to make Brazil a global Gripen export hub, while Embraer's CEO highlighted Brazil's sovereign supersonic fighter production capacity.
- Embraer leads final assembly at Gavião Peixoto, using a mixed supply chain, and Saab manufactures aerostructures in São Bernardo do Campo, with functional and flight tests conducted before handover to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
- Brazil's Gripens are operational, flying Quick Reaction Alert missions from Anápolis since February to protect federal airspace, demonstrating the Gripen E's multi-role capabilities and network-centric architecture.
- Domestic production enhances Brazil's engineering expertise, sovereign supply chain, and strategic independence, while strengthening Saab's ties with Latin America and Embraer's position in the global combat aviation market.
- Production will continue for remaining aircraft, turning an ambitious procurement into a lasting industrial capability.