Brazil has officially revealed its first locally manufactured Gripen E fighter jet during a ceremony held at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo state.
Domestic production took place at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto site—established in 2023 as the first Gripen E assembly line outside Sweden—as well as at Saab’s São Bernardo do Campo facility.
The first Brazilian-built aircraft will now undergo functional checks and production flight testing before being delivered to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). An additional 14 aircraft are planned to be produced under the same local manufacturing framework.
2014 Procurement Agreement
The milestone stems from a 2014 contract under which Brazil ordered 36 Gripen fighters from Saab, including 28 single-seat Gripen E variants and eight twin-seat Gripen F models.
The agreement also incorporates an extensive technology transfer program spanning more than a decade, enabling the local assembly of 15 aircraft, with the remaining units produced in Sweden.
Since deliveries commenced in 2020, the FAB has received 10 Gripen E jets manufactured in Sweden.
In Brazilian service, the aircraft are designated as the F-39E and are currently deployed for Quick Reaction Alert missions from Anápolis Air Force Base.
