DefenseKC-390 completes certification flights with the Gripen F-39E fighter in Brazil
Embraer and Saab completed on November 14 the certification flight campaign for the in-flight refueling of the F-39E Gripen fighter by the KC-390 Millennium, at Embraer’s facilities in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil.
The operation aimed to qualify the Gripen as a fuel-receiving aircraft in flight and ensure operational compatibility between the two models, in collaboration with the Brazilian Air Force.
The certification process involved the joint efforts of approximately 40 professionals and was called Operation Samaúma.
The Swedish Military Aviation Authority (SE-MAA) will analyze the technical evidence collected during the trials, while the Institute of Industrial Promotion and Coordination (IFI) of the FAB will be responsible for conducting the certification process in Brazil.
“This important milestone confirms the KC-390 unmatched qualities as a tanker and further strengthens our partnership with Saab and the Brazilian Air Force,” said Walter Pinto Júnior, vice president of Operations at Embraer Defense & Security.
Mikael Olsson, head of flight testing at Saab, stated that “this achievement reflects the high level of integration between the teams involved.”
“The verification of in-flight refuelling between the KC-390 and Gripen represents the success of a cooperation that goes beyond borders,” added Colonel aviator George Luiz Guedes de Oliveira.
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