Saab presents first Gripen E to Brazil
Test flight programme for first Brazilian Aircraft marked by ceremony in Linköping, Sweden
Saab has taken another important step in the delivery of Gripen E to the Brazilian customer.
The…
Test flight programme for first Brazilian Aircraft marked by ceremony in Linköping, Sweden
Saab has taken another important step in the delivery of Gripen E to the Brazilian customer.
The first Brazilian Gripen E aircraft, delivered to start the flight test programme was marked by a ceremony in Linköping, Sweden.
Initial flight tests will be performed in Sweden and by the end of 2020, the aircraft will move to Brazil to continue the flight test campaign. Deliveries to the Brazilian Air force will begin in 2021.
A ceremony to mark milestone was held in Linköping, Sweden on September 10. The ceremony was attended by Fernando Azevedo e Silva, Brazilian Minister for Defence; Lieutenant Brigadier Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez, Chief of the Brazilian Air Force; Nelson Antonio Tabajara de Oliveira, Ambassador of Brazil to Sweden; Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos Augusto Amaral Oliveira, Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Air Force; Peter Hultqvist, Swedish Minister for Defence; Major General Mats Helgesson, Commander of the Swedish Air Force; and representing Saab Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO; and Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and head of Saab business area Aeronautics.
Technological leap in fighter aviation for the Brazilian Air Force
Lieutenant Brigadier Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez, Chief of the Brazilian Air Force, said: “The F-39 Gripen represents a significant technological leap in fighter aviation for the Brazilian Air Force. It is also a great example of collaborative development based on the transfer of technology and on the promotion of the defence industry. Thus, the Brazilian Air Force now has a new multi-mission platform for the fulfilment of its actions to control, defend and integrate the national territory. Since its conception, the Gripen programme has benefitted the Brazilian society. I am very happy to be part of this historical moment for fighter aviation in Brazil,”
10 year programme delivery
The partnership with Brazil started in 2014 with the contract (order value 39.3 BSEK) for the development and production of 36 Gripen E/F for the Brazilian Air Force, including related systems, support and equipment. Saab is driving the development of the local aeronautics industry through its national partners in the Brazilian Gripen programme, which includes a comprehensive transfer of technology programme to Brazil, to be delivered over approximately 10 years.
The Brazilian Gripen E/F aircraft are developed and produced with the participation of Brazilian technicians and engineers. This integration is part of the transfer of technology and aims to provide practical knowledge necessary for the execution of these same activities in Brazil. Starting in 2021, the complete aircraft assembly of 15 aircraft will begin in Brazil. Development of the two-seat Gripen F is progressing with extensive activities at Gripen Design and Development Network in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil. Gripen F deliveries are expected to start in 2023.
Gripen E builds on the successful design of earlier versions. Gripen is a multirole fighter currently operated in Sweden, South Africa, Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand, and soon to be joined by Brazil. The UK Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) uses Gripen as platform for test pilot training.
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