Brazil has taken a significant step in military aviation with the public unveiling of the first Gripen fighter jet assembled domestically. The aircraft comes from a contract signed in 2014 for Saab’s Gripen, a deal that was selected over competing offers from Boeing and Dassault to renew Brazil’s aging fighter fleet.
Under the terms of the agreement with Swedish defence group Saab, a total of 36 Gripen jets are on contract, and 15 of those jets will be produced at Embraer’s production site in Gaviao Peixoto, Sao Paulo state. Production at the Brazilian plant proceeds under a technology transfer arrangement agreed as part of the purchase.
Saab has signaled an intention to use the new Brazilian production line not only to supply the domestic programme but also as an export hub. That objective received a practical boost from an agreement reached last year for neighboring Colombia to acquire Gripen fighters, which Saab said strengthens the export case for Brazilian-built jets.
Commenting on the milestone, Saab CEO Micael Johansson said, "This is the first time since 1937, when Saab was founded, that a fighter aircraft is manufactured outside Sweden." The statement highlights the historic nature of the production shift and the role of the Swedish company in enabling manufacturing beyond its home country.
The emergence of a Brazilian-assembled supersonic fighter places the country alongside other nations that build supersonic combat aircraft, including established Western powers and several major developing economies. The project is part of a broader push in Brazil’s defence and aerospace sectors.
Embraer’s broader portfolio is also noted in the announcement: the C-390 Millennium cargo aircraft is cited as gaining commercial traction among buyers in Europe, underscoring continued activity in Brazil’s aerospace exports and production capabilities.
Context
- The original contract for Gripen was signed in 2014.
- 36 jets are under contract, with 15 slated for production at Embraer’s Gaviao Peixoto plant under a technology transfer agreement.
- Saab expects the Brazilian line to serve as an export hub, supported by a deal for Colombia to acquire Gripen fighters.