DefenseBrazil to unveil first locally assembled Gripen fighter on March 25
Brazil is expected to present its first locally assembled F-39 Gripen fighter on March 25 at Embraer’s production facility, according to information reported by Brazilian media. Saab had previously indicated the expected timeline in a January interview with FlightGlobal.
The aircraft is structurally complete but has yet to conduct its maiden flight. The ceremony is expected to gather Brazilian Air Force officials and industry representatives as the program moves from initial deliveries from Sweden to domestic assembly.
Brazil has ordered 36 Gripen fighters — 28 single-seat E variants and eight two-seat F models. Under the industrial agreement signed with Sweden, 15 aircraft are to be assembled in Brazil as part of a technology transfer program. Earlier plans foresaw local assembly of the two-seat version, but that responsibility was later reassigned to Saab’s facilities in Sweden.
The Brazilian Air Force currently operates 11 Gripens, while another aircraft remains at Embraer as part of the industrialization and certification process. All fighters delivered so far were manufactured in Sweden and shipped to Brazil.
35 kilometers of wiring
Assembly in Brazil began in 2020 with the delivery of initial structural components from Saab. The production line was inaugurated in 2023, formalizing the start of local assembly under the technology transfer agreement.
The assembly process includes joining major fuselage sections, integrating components produced in Brazil — such as the rear fuselage cone and airbrakes — sealing fuel tanks and conducting structural pressurization and geometric alignment checks. In final integration, the aircraft receives roughly 35 kilometers of wiring, 300 meters of piping, avionics systems and mission software. After engine runs and systems validation, the fighter undergoes ground and flight testing before delivery.
As local production advances, the Brazilian Air Force has expanded operational use of the type. In February, Gripen fighters conducted their first live bomb drops in Brazil during Operation Thor, employing both conventional and laser-guided munitions. In previous months, the aircraft launched a Meteor air-to-air missile against a drone target, carried out firing tests with its 27 mm internal cannon and completed aerial refueling trials with the KC-390 transport aircraft.
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