Brazil Celebrates the Launch of Gripen E Manufacturing Line

Saab and Embraer have officially launched the manufacturing line for Gripen E in Brazil, at Embraer’s facility in Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo State). This represents a significant achievement in the technology exchange initiative and the companies’ dedication to collaborate on fresh commercial ventures.

The occasion was graced by esteemed civil and military officials, along with delegates from various segments of Brazilian society. The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attended the ceremony, alongside the Minister of Defense, José Mucio Monteiro Filho, and the Brazilian Air Force Commander, Air Force General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, among other notable attendees.

The opening of the final assembly line, the only one for Gripen E outside of Sweden, signifies the contribution of one of the most important elements to the Gripen fighter ecosystem in Brazil. The Embraer facility in Gavião Peixoto, equipped with the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN), the Gripen Flight Test Center (GFTC), and now the assembly line, serves as the base for the development, manufacturing, and testing phases of the aircraft.

Since the signing of the agreement to supply 36 Gripen fighters – comprising 28 Gripen E (single-seater) and 8 Gripen F (twin-seater) – to the Brazilian Air Force in 2014, Saab and Embraer have been collaborating on the most extensive ongoing technology transfer endeavor in the nation. Recently, with the endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding between the companies, the production line has emerged as a platform for new opportunities.

“The commencement of the Gripen production line encapsulates our pledge to convey technology and expertise to the Brazilian industry. Here, we will manufacture 15 of the 36 aircraft currently contracted to the Brazilian Air Force. The ambition includes producing any future Gripen orders from Brazil and potentially from other nations. We aspire for Brazil to become an export center for Latin America and potentially other areas,” stated Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

“Today we not only commemorate the inauguration of the Gripen fighter production line, but also the triumph of the partnership between Saab and Embraer, which strengthens with each passing day with the shared objective of serving our client, the Brazilian Air Force. From the outset, Embraer has played a critical role in the Gripen programme, contributing to the development of the Brazilian variant of the twin-seater aircraft. As a natural progression of this alliance, we hope to expand our business into new markets together soon,” shared Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

“The initiation of F-39 Gripen aircraft production in Brazil signifies the realization of an ambitious project that manifests as technology transfer, job creation, and the advancement of Brazil’s aerospace industry. With a robust partnership among the Air Force, Saab, and Embraer, we now join the elite group of nations capable of manufacturing supersonic aircraft. Kudos to all involved!” remarked the Brazilian Air Force Commander, General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno.

The assembly line at Embraer receives the aerostructures manufactured at the Saab facilities in Linköping (Sweden) and São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo State, Brazil).

Once a Gripen is completed, functional assessments and production flights are conducted to ready the aircraft for final delivery. The Embraer facility will be accountable for producing 15 Gripen E fighters. Units assembled in Brazil will be delivered starting in 2025.

To gain the requisite skills for the production of supersonic fighter aircraft in Brazil, Embraer technicians undertook theoretical and hands-on training at Saab in Linköping. There, they collaborated closely with Swedish personnel to manufacture the aircraft that have already been dispatched to Brazil.