Brazil has officially joined a select group of nations capable of producing advanced supersonic fighter aircraft.
Embraer, Saab and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) have unveiled the first Gripen E fighter jet assembled in Brazil, marking a major milestone in the country’s aerospace and defence industrial capability. The aircraft was presented during a ceremony at Embraer’s industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo.
The event brought together senior political and military leadership, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, alongside representatives from Brazil and Sweden, reflecting the strategic depth of the bilateral partnership behind the programme.
Building sovereign capability
The locally produced Gripen E represents more than a production milestone. It signals Brazil’s transition toward sovereign capability in advanced combat aviation, supported by technology transfer, industrial cooperation and long-term strategic alignment with Sweden.
“Developing the capability to produce a high-tech supersonic fighter aircraft within Brazil is a significant achievement,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “It strengthens national defence and creates new opportunities for industrial growth.”
Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson highlighted the partnership dimension of the programme, describing it as “built on trust, long-term vision and real cooperation,” with ambitions to position Brazil as a regional industrial and export hub.
Industrial ecosystem and production model
Production of the Gripen E in Brazil is centred at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility, supported by a hybrid Brazilian–international supply chain, including aerostructures manufactured at Saab’s facility in São Bernardo do Campo.
A further 14 aircraft under the current contract will follow the same production model.
Before delivery, each aircraft undergoes full functional and flight testing. The newly unveiled fighter will eventually join the fleet already operated by the 1st Air Defense Group (1st GDA) at Anápolis Air Base, where Gripen aircraft are already conducting Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions.
From platform to capability
The Gripen E is designed as a multi-role, network-centric fighter, capable of air defence, reconnaissance and strike missions. Its architecture integrates advanced avionics, sensors and weapons systems, enabling real-time data sharing and enhanced situational awareness in complex operational environments.
This capability is increasingly critical as air forces adapt to multi-domain operations and high-intensity scenarios, where connectivity and decision speed are as decisive as platform performance.
A strategic programme
The Gripen programme, signed in 2014, includes 36 aircraft (28 Gripen E and 8 Gripen F). Deliveries began in 2020, with 10 aircraft already delivered to the Brazilian Air Force.
While Brazil maintains a policy of strategic autonomy, the programme illustrates a broader trend: defence sovereignty built through international cooperation, not isolation.
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