In a new phase within the program for the incorporation of Saab F-39E Gripen fighters, the experimental unit of the Brazilian Air Force (registration FAB 4100) began release tests with guided and free-fall bombs during Operation Thor, carried out at Natal Air Base (Brazil). This new chapter consolidates the Gripen’s readiness in its air-to-ground attack capabilities, a decisive step after having reached full operational capability at the end of 2025.
During Operation Thor, the Gripen E was subjected to intensive trials to validate the safe release of bombs, ensuring stable and predictable separations without compromising the integrity of the aircraft. In this regard, aviator colonel Alisson Henrique Vieira, general coordinator of the operation, explained that the weapon release process is one of the most critical phases of flight, since “aerodynamic phenomena may occur that generate unsafe situations or damage to the aircraft; therefore everything is meticulously analyzed prior to operational certification.”
The tests were conducted with aircraft registration 4100, belonging to the Gripen Flight Test Center based in Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo), under the command of aviator major Thiago Camargo, from the Institute of Flight Research and Testing (IPEV), who became the first Brazilian pilot to drop bombs from an F-39. Each release was monitored in real time to verify the fighter’s stability and the accuracy of separation under different conditions, with support from teams deployed at the Maxaranguape firing range, responsible for target preparation and for recording the impacts for subsequent analysis.
The successful conclusion of Operation Thor, on February 6, was confirmed by Saab’s Head of Flight Testing, Mikael Olsson, who highlighted that Brazil became the first operator to carry out the release of Mk-84 bombs and laser-guided Lizard 500 bombs from the Gripen. In this regard, he stated that “the data obtained reinforce how the aircraft significantly expands the capabilities of the Brazilian Air Force.” This achievement represents a crucial step toward continuing the operational trials of the F-39 in ground-attack and tactical support missions.
Operation Thor adds to a series of milestones achieved by the Gripen program during 2025. Last November, the FAB carried out the first launch of the MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile, establishing the full integration of the most advanced weapons system in Brazilian combat aviation. That test confirmed the F-39E’s ability to detect and neutralize threats at more than 150 kilometers, placing Brazil among the few nations that employ this long-range weaponry. A few weeks later, the fighter successfully conducted its first live-fire exercise with the 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon at Santa Cruz Air Base, verifying its accuracy and performance in simulated combat scenarios.
Likewise, at the beginning of 2025, the experimental Gripen was subjected to rigorous tests under extreme conditions at Anápolis Air Base, evaluating its performance with external loads at high temperatures and altitude. Equipped with fuel tanks and Diehl IRIS-T and MBDA Meteor missiles, it completed 14 missions under conditions of 32 °C and 1,100 meters above sea level, including eight hot ground refuelings. These tests confirmed the robustness of the flight control system and the efficiency of the engine under high load, ensuring its operability in the demanding climatic environments characteristic of Brazilian territory.
Another noteworthy advance was the first ground refueling of a Gripen from a KC-390 Millennium, carried out in August under the FARP (Forward Arming and Refueling Point) procedure. The maneuver demonstrated interoperability between both platforms, reducing downtime and expanding the fighter’s combat autonomy. A few months later, in November 2025, Saab and Embraer officially certified the KC-390’s capabilities to conduct in-flight refueling of the Gripen, a technical achievement that consolidated the integration between both systems and marked a new level of operational reach for the FAB.
It should be noted that each of the previous test campaigns, from missile launches and cannon firing exercises to trials under extreme conditions and refueling certifications, reinforces the FAB’s commitment to continue advancing in the training and readiness of its Gripen fighters, the future backbone of its combat aviation over the coming decades.
*Image credits: Brazilian Air Force.
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