As the integration program for the JAS-39 Gripen E fighters continues to progress, the Brazilian Air Force is preparing to receive a new unit manufactured by Saab in Sweden — the tenth of the total 36 aircraft ordered. The latest aircraft was recently transferred from Norrköping Airport to the city’s port, from where it will be shipped to Brazil.
The transfer was carried out under heavy police presence, including a tactical unit, to ensure the security of this high-value military asset. The aircraft is part of the batch of 36 fighters ordered by Brazil in 2014, of which 15 will be produced locally by Embraer.
To date, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has already incorporated a total of eight F-39E Gripen fighters (the local designation for the JAS-39 Gripen E), in addition to FAB 4100, which is used exclusively for testing, trials, and validation campaigns. This experimental aircraft — the first received by the FAB in 2019 — continues to play a key role in the operational integration of the fleet, particularly regarding performance in demanding environmental conditions. The next aircraft to be delivered bears the registration 4110, while the F-39E registered 4109 has yet to be handed over.
In early 2025, the FAB conducted a new evaluation campaign at the Anápolis Air Base, where FAB 4100 underwent flight tests with a full load under high-temperature conditions (32°C) and high altitude (1,100 meters above sea level). The fighter flew with two 1,100-liter underwing tanks, infrared-guided IRIS-T missiles, and active radar-guided Meteor missiles, completing 14 missions of 35 minutes each, including 62 landings and eight hot refuelings, all without shutting down the engine.
Until visual confirmation of the preparations for the shipment of the tenth aircraft, Saab had not completed any new deliveries so far in 2025. However, in official statements, it was announced that the delivery of the first fully Brazilian-assembled JAS-39 Gripen by Embraer is expected by the end of the year, marking a key milestone in the technology transfer agreement with Sweden and reinforcing Brazil’s industrial capability in combat aircraft production.
Finally, beyond the 36 units outlined in the original contract, the Brazilian Air Force has expressed interest in acquiring at least 30 additional Gripen fighters over the next decade. This requirement stems from the need to replace aging platforms such as the AMX A-1 — operated solely by Brazil following its retirement from the Italian Air Force — and the F-5EM/FM Tiger.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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