At the end of yesterday, the Brazilian Air Force received its new F-39E Gripen fighter aircraft, registration FAB 4111, manufactured by SAAB AB and transported from Sweden by sea. The aircraft arrived in Navegantes, on the coast of Santa Catarina, after completing the Atlantic crossing aboard the Dutch-flagged vessel Fortunagracht. The journey, which began in Norrköping, took nearly 20 days.
According to information provided by the Brazilian Air Force, the unloading of the F-39E Gripen FAB 4111 began at 8:50 p.m. on Friday, November 14. Regarding the maneuver and the planning required for transporting the fighter, Colonel Aviator Claucio Oliveira Marques, manager of the F-X2 Project at the Coordinating Committee for the Combat Aircraft Program (COPAC), stated that “…It is a complex operation that requires meticulous planning and coordination by various actors, both internal and external to the Brazilian Air Force…”.
With the reception of the FAB 4111 Gripen, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) continues to expand its fleet of Swedish-built F-39E aircraft. In total, the Force now has 11 units, including the newly arrived one. Of these, nine are already assigned to the First Air Defense Group (1º GDA) – Jaguar Squadron, while the prototype FAB 4100 continues to carry out key roles in testing, validation, and support for operational integration.
The FAB is expected to incorporate an additional aircraft in 2025: the F-39E, registration FAB 4109, the first Gripen unit to be manufactured by Embraer. It is worth recalling that Brazil acquired 36 Gripen E fighters under the FX-2 program, an initiative aimed not only at modernizing the Force’s capabilities but also accompanied by an important technology transfer plan.
Local coordination and mandatory checks
The F-X2 project director also highlighted the coordination efforts required for the transfer operation of each F-39E Gripen received by the FAB, as it is a large-scale process involving various actors responsible for security, airport coordination and air navigation. “…It is also the moment when the public usually has the opportunity to see up close the impressive next-generation fighter of the Air Force…”, added Colonel Aviator Claucio Oliveira Marques.
The Brazilian Air Force also stated that the new Gripen will undergo technical procedures carried out by SAAB technicians, “…such as the installation of the survival kit and ejection seat, refueling, and preparation for takeoff. Once all these phases of the operation are completed, FAB 4111 will receive authorization to take off towards Anápolis Air Base (BAAN), where it will join the inventory of the First Air Defense Group (1º GDA) – Jaguar Squadron…”.
Illustrative cover image. Credits: Zona Militar
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