A senior-level meeting with Brazilian and Swedish authorities took place this Wednesday 24 at Saab’s facilities to unveil the first six series-produced Gripen E aircraft, which have left the factory to begin the delivery phase.
It was attended by General Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, Commander of the Brazilian Air Force; Major General Carl-Johan Edström, Commander of the Swedish Air Force; Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab; and Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area.
«These deliveries are an important part of strengthening our capabilities and Sweden’s defense. The JAS 39 E Gripen will increase Sweden’s defense capability, empowering us to build a stronger and tactically superior Air Force for every situation, «said Major General Carl-Johan Edström, Commander of the Swedish Air Force.
«It is a pleasure to follow the accomplishment of one more step in the delivery process of the F-39 Gripen aircraft, which will lead the evolution of the Brazilian Air Force’s combat capability. This project represents a new technological level for Brazil and is of fundamental importance in the development of our Defense Industrial Base», said General Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, Commander of the Brazilian Air Force.
President and CEO of Saab, Micael Johansson, said that «the start of the serial delivery phase with these four aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force and two for the Swedish Air Force is an extremely important achievement for the Gripen program. It demonstrates that we have a mature product and that we are meeting our contractual obligations».
The aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB4101, FAB4102, FAB4103, and FAB4104) will arrive in Brazil by sea at the port of Navegantes in mid-December, where they will be towed to the airport to fly to Gavião Peixoto, in the interior of the state of São Paulo, as reported by our partner media in Brazil, Aeroin. After the induction phase, the four aircraft will be based in Anápolis, in the state of Goiás, home of the FAB’s 1st Air Defense Group. In total, Brazil has ordered 36 Gripen fighters to be delivered by 2024.
Part of the reasons that led Brazil to choose the Swedish model over other manufacturers was the technology transfer and industry cooperation for the development and production of the aircraft. Around 350 Brazilians (including engineers and technicians) are actively working in the program of technological transfer, which includes training in Sweden. In 2016, the Gripen Project and Development Center was inaugurated in São Paulo, where professionals from both countries work in a joint manner.
