The first Gripen E fighter produced in Brazil by Embraer completed its maiden flight on 7 October 2026 at the company’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo State. Flown by a Saab test pilot, the aircraft underwent checks of its principal systems and flight characteristics. According to Embraer and Saab, the flight confirmed the expected performance and provided data for the production flight-test and acceptance campaign. The aircraft will undergo further testing before delivery to the Brazilian Air Force, after which it is scheduled to join the First Air Defence Group at Anápolis Air Base in Goiás State.
The aircraft is the first of 15 fighters scheduled for production in Brazil under the existing Gripen programme and was unveiled on 25 March following final assembly. Gavião Peixoto houses the only Gripen production line outside Sweden, making it a second manufacturing location alongside Saab’s Swedish facilities. Embraer participated in planning and executing the maiden flight, drawing on capabilities developed through its cooperation with Saab and the Brazilian Air Force. The programme has involved Brazilian engineers and technicians in aircraft development, manufacturing, systems integration and flight testing, with technology transfer forming a central part of the procurement arrangement.
Brazil signed its contract for 36 Gripen aircraft in 2014, comprising 28 single-seat Gripen E fighters and eight two-seat Gripen F aircraft. The programme combines aircraft acquisition with industrial cooperation intended to establish domestic expertise in production and support. According to the companies’ October announcement, deliveries began in 2020 and ten aircraft have been delivered to the Brazilian Air Force. The first flight of the Brazilian-produced aircraft marks a further stage in this process, although completion of the acceptance campaign remains necessary before it can enter service. Its eventual deployment to Anápolis will add to the Gripen E aircraft already operated by the First Air Defence Group.
Embraer and Saab are also discussing an expansion of their production partnership. A Heads of Agreement announced on 21 July established a framework for negotiations concerning the potential assembly of 20 additional Gripen aircraft at Gavião Peixoto, with the possibility of further expansion for Brazilian and international requirements. The agreement does not constitute a confirmed order for those aircraft; additional production would depend on subsequent contracts. If implemented, the arrangement would allow the Brazilian facility to complement Saab’s final assembly line in Linköping and take a larger role in future deliveries. For Brazil, the latest flight provides a practical demonstration of the manufacturing and testing capabilities developed through the programme. For the two companies, it advances an industrial arrangement that could support further production beyond the aircraft already contracted for the Brazilian Air Force.
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