On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, a rollout ceremony was held at the Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica) facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo state, Brazil, for the first locally assembled Saab F-39E Gripen multirole fighter intended for the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB).
Photos: Embraer
Among the representatives of the Brazilian authorities present at the event were President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Sweden’s Ambassador to Brazil, Karin Wallensteen; Brazil’s Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro Filho; the Commander of the Brazilian Air Force, Gen. Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno; as well as senior executives of the companies involved in the program, including Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer; Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security; and Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab Defence and Security.
“We take great pride in supporting the Brazilian Air Force in this project and in developing, within Brazil, the capability to produce a high-tech supersonic fighter aircraft – fully capable of executing air superiority missions and contributing to the defense of our territorial sovereignty. The unveiling of the first Gripen produced in Brazil represents yet another significant milestone in the strategic collaboration between Brazil and Sweden. We are confident that this partnership generates value for both countries and holds great potential to open up new business opportunities,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“The delivery of the first Gripen produced in Brazil represents far more than the completion of an aircraft; it symbolizes the strength of a partnership built on trust, long‑term vision, and true cooperation. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved side by side with our Brazilian partners. Saab remains fully committed to expanding, and deepening our presence in Brazil, strengthening the country industrially and technologically, and as an export hub to the world,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
Embraer’s final assembly facility in Gavião Peixoto produces JAS 39E/F Gripen aircraft, locally designated as F-39E/F, using both Brazilian and international supply chains, including aerostructures manufactured at Saab’s facility in São Bernardo do Campo. A further 14 aircraft under the current contract will be produced using the same model. The final assembly line in Gavião Peixoto was inaugurated on May 9, 2023. Notably, the Swedes have also established in Brazil the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN) research center, as well as the Gripen Flight Test Center (GFTC).
Before final delivery to the customer, the aircraft will undergo functional testing and flight trials. After this stage, the fighter will join the first ten aircraft delivered from Sweden to Jaguar Squadron of the 1st Air Defense Group (1º Grupo de Defesa Aérea), based at Anápolis Air Base named after Otávio Lage de Siqueira, located near Brasília. Since February this year, the aircraft have been carrying out missions under the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system, following the recent completion of certification for weapons integration and aerial refueling with the KC-390 Millennium.
In 2014, Brazil ordered a total of 36 next-generation Gripens (28 single-seat F-39E and 8 twin-seat F-39F), and under an agreement from November 2024, it plans to acquire an additional 8 aircraft as part of an option for up to 72 units.
