Gripen aircraft performs first flight in Brazilian space

The fighter developed jointly by Brazil and Sweden will be the “backbone” of the Aviation Fighter Aviation

Gripen fighter will be able to defend airspace at remote points, increasing the FAB's operational capacity. - Photo: Sgt Bianca / Brazilian Air Force

Sep 25, Defence: From Navegantes (SC) to Gavião Peixoto (SP). This was the first flight in Brazilian space made by Gripen. The aircraft, produced together with the Swedish company Saab, is part of a partnership that foresees the construction of 36 fighters. The first Gripen arrived in the country on Sunday (20) after being transported from Sweden.

The aircraft will be at the Gripen Flight Test Center at Embraer's plant in São Paulo. The structure was built for the transfer of technology, support and updates in the life cycle of the platform in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).

According to the Ministry of Defense, the aircraft, jointly developed by Brazil and Sweden, will be the backbone of Aviation Fighter Aviation, as the most modern and advanced multi-mission platform that will act in the defence of Brazilian airspace.

"The arrival of the first Gripen aircraft to Brazil is of paramount importance," said Major Brigadeiro, Valter Borges Malta, President of the Combat Aircraft Program Coordinating Committee. “With this, the national industry will have the opportunity to participate in the development not only of the aircraft itself, but also of systems integration, of armaments, in short, it represents a lot for the Brazilian Air Force, it represents a lot for Brazil because it is bringing no only air defence, but it is adding the national industry together with the development of this program ”, he said.

Saab is responsible for developing the aircraft in partnership with the Brazilian aerospace industry, which, within a technology transfer program, is preparing to produce parts and assemble the last Gripen units in Brazil.

In all, 36 aircraft will be produced, of which 28 are single-seat and eight are two-seat aircraft. "The last 15 aircraft will be produced entirely within Embraer's facilities together with all the companies that are participating in the development of the Gripen program together with the Swedish company Saab," explained the Major.

“The project for the acquisition of these means brings with it the activities of technology transfer, compensation, and in this case, training, knowledge transfer and, mainly, workload”, pointed out Malta.

Brazilian Gripen E / F fighters are developed and produced in collaboration with Brazilian technicians and engineers. The expectation is that starting in 2021, the complete assembly of 15 aircraft will start in Brazil.

The aeroplane will be presented to the society in Brasília (DF), on October 23, the date on which the Day of the Aviator and the Brazilian Air Force is celebrated.