Saab delivers 10th Gripen E fighter to Brazilian Air Force

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) took delivery of its 10th Gripen E fighter on Tuesday. The Saab aircraft, locally named F-39E, took off from Navegantes International Airport in the south of the country, heading to Anápolis Air Base.

There, the Gripen FAB 4110 was incorporated by the 1st Air Defense Group (1st GDA), which operates all Saab fighters.

The 10th aircraft of an order for 36 fighters signed in 2014 was shipped to Brazil from Sweden after being completed by the manufacturer in Linköping.

“The delivery of the 10th Gripen fighter represents another important milestone in the strategic partnership we have built with Brazil,” said Peter Dölling, CEO of Saab Brazil. “Through the technology transfer program, Brazilian pilots are now fully qualified to operate the Gripen.”

“More than just the 10th aircraft of the 36 to be delivered, the arrival of the new Gripen represents the first unit with new capabilities developed for the FAB. With this, the first air defense group will be able to perform a new range of missions, in addition to expanding the availability of aircraft for pilot training and contributing to airspace sovereignty,” said Air Force Colonel Claudio Oliveira Marques.

With this delivery, Brazil now has nine Gripen fighters in the 1st GDA, in addition to one aircraft, FAB 4100, undergoing flight tests and development at the Gripen Flight Test Center, at the facilities of Embraer, Saab’s partner.

The 11th Gripen is due to be delivered in November and will be the first assembled in Brazil. The agreement provides for 15 F-39Es produced in the country.

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