Swedish-made Gripen jets join Brazil’s fleet of operational fighter planes

Americas, Europe, News December 20, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Brazil officially commissioned the first Saab Gripen warplane in its fleet of operational fighter jets on December 19, 2022. Brazil is set to receive five new F-39E Gripen jets from Sweden.

Brazil received its first Saab F-39 Gripen fighter jet in April 2022. The warplane remained at the Annapolis Air Base near the federal capital Brasilia. The plane had been used for training and testing for a few months until it was officially commissioned into the fleet of Brazilian air force fighter jets.

After being commissioned into the air force fleet, Gripens will become operational. The jet would take part in the line-up of fighter jets belonging to the 1st Aviation Group, taking charge of regular peacetime tasks. Operating from Annapolis, this unit is responsible for the defense and control of air space over nearby Brasilia, the federal capital city of Brazil.

Gripen is light single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft produced by Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. Originally introduced in 1979, the jet is produced in several versions. Saab has produced the F-39A Gripen version specifically for the Brazilian air force.

The Swedish air force is the largest operator of Saab Gripen fighter jets as it operates more than 200 jets in its fleet. Apart from that Hungary, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Thailand also operate different versions of Gripen fighter jets.

Due to its compatibility with NATO armaments, several European states are considering purchasing Gripen fighter jets in near future. This list includes Poland, Slovakia, Norway, Netherlands, Croatia, Austria, and Bulgaria.

The Brazilian air force had the option to choose from Dassault Rafael, the Boeing Super Hornet, and the Gripen under its F-X2 fighter program. Brazil plans to procure at least 36 and possibly up to 120 Saab Gripen F-39A fighter jets to replace its aging Northrop F-5EM and Dassault Mirage aircraft. Around 45 F-5EMs are currently in service with the Brazilian Air Force, distributed among three combat aviation groups. Brazil plans to replace all its F-5EM jets with Gripen F-39As.

*^{Swedish aerospace and defense company’s Gripen fighter aircraft flying in formation. (Image Credit: Saab/Flickr)}*

In October 2014, Brazil placed its first order worth $4.7 million for 36 Gripen fighter jets, including 28 single-seat and 8 two-seat machines. A supplementary batch of four aircraft was ordered in April 2022. The last 15 of the 40 aircraft already ordered and those to be ordered in the future will be assembled locally, including a percentage of parts manufactured in the country.

According to statements made last May by the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Air Force, Gen. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, Brazil intends to procure a total of 66 Gripens, with an accumulative cost of $2.2 billion. In August, Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson confirmed that negotiations are underway for the sale of the balance of 26 aircraft.