Brazil is negotiating with Sweden over the possible acquisition of up to 12 pre-owned Saab Gripen C/D fighter jets. Intended as an interim measure, the purchase would bridge capability gaps as Brazil retires its F-5s and AMX aircraft, while delays tied to financial pressures slow deliveries of the Gripen E/F fleet under the F-X2 program. The step underscores the Air Force’s need to preserve operational readiness despite procurement setbacks.
The talks came to light after Brazilian Air Force Commander Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno traveled to Stockholm in September 2025. There, he met Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson and signed a bilateral defense cooperation declaration. The agreement focused on Sweden’s planned acquisition of four Embraer KC-390 transports but made no reference to the fighter negotiations. Neither Saab nor the Brazilian and Swedish governments have provided further details, limiting comments to acknowledgment of ongoing defense collaboration.
