Brazil has formally unveiled the first Gripen E fighter aircraft produced in the country, marking a new stage in its defense partnership with Sweden. Saab, Embraer, and the Brazilian Air Force unveiled the aircraft on March 25 during a ceremony at Embraer’s industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, in São Paulo State.
The event brought together top officials from Brazil and Sweden, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Swedish Ambassador Karin Wallensten, Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro Filho, and Brazilian Air Force Commander Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno. Senior executives from Saab and Embraer also attended, showing the weight of the program for both countries.
“The delivery of the first Gripen produced in Brazil represents far more than the completion of an aircraft; it symbolises the strength of a partnership built on trust, long-term vision, and true cooperation. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved side by side with our Brazilian partners. Saab remains fully committed to expanding and deepening our presence in Brazil, strengthening the country industrially and technologically, and as an export hub to the world,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
Production in Brazil moves forward
The new Gripen E was built at Embraer’s site in Gavião Peixoto using a mix of Brazilian and international suppliers. That includes aerostructures produced at Saab’s facility in São Bernardo do Campo. Under the current contract with the Brazilian Air Force, another 14 aircraft will follow the same production model.
Before the aircraft is formally delivered, it will still go through functional testing and production flight tests. After that, it will join the other aircraft already assigned to the First Defense Group at Anápolis Air Force Base. The Brazilian Air Force has already received 11 Gripen fighters, and the fleet has been flying Quick Reaction Alert missions from Anápolis since February to protect the airspace over the federal government district.
“We take great pride in supporting the Brazilian Air Force in this project and in developing, within Brazil, the capability to produce a high-tech supersonic fighter aircraft – fully capable of executing air superiority missions and contributing to the defense of our territorial sovereignty. The unveiling of the first Gripen produced in Brazil represents yet another significant milestone in the strategic collaboration between Brazil and Sweden. We are confident that this partnership generates value for both countries and holds great potential to open up new business opportunities,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
A key step in the 36-aircraft program
The Gripen program in Brazil goes back to the 2014 contract signed with the Brazilian government for 36 aircraft, made up of 28 single-seat Gripen E fighters and eight two-seat Gripen F variants. Deliveries started in 2020, and the program now enters a more important phase as production takes place inside Brazil.
The Gripen E is built for multiple roles, including air defense, reconnaissance, and strike missions. Saab says the aircraft combines modern avionics, sensors, weapons, and mission systems designed for complex operating conditions. Its sensor-fusion and network-based architecture allow it to share information across a tactical formation, helping improve situational awareness and response during missions.
With the first Brazilian-built aircraft now presented, the program moves into a more advanced industrial stage, with Brazil not only operating the fighter but also producing it at home.
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