Brazil’s Gripen E fighters participate in their first multinational exercise outside Brazil
In a significant demonstration of international military collaboration, Brazil’s Gripen E fighters participated in their inaugural multinational exercise outside of Brazil, operating from Cerro Moreno Air Base in Antofagasta, Chile. This exercise, known as SALITRE 2026, brought together over 1,500 military personnel from several countries along with approximately 60 aircraft, who successfully completed more than 250 flight hours throughout various missions.
The Gripen fighters operated in conjunction with aircraft from Chile, Argentina, Colombia, the United States, and Paraguay, engaging in air operations characteristic of conventional warfare under a unified command structure. The operations included escort, sweep, combat air patrol, and air defense missions both within visual range (WVR) and beyond visual range (BVR). Equipped with advanced capabilities such as the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, the Gripen fighters effectively utilized their electronic warfare suite in these missions.
Peter Dölling, Managing Director of Saab Brazil, commented on the significance of the F-39E Gripen’s participation: “The participation of the F-39E Gripen in SALITRE 2026 represents another step in the evolution of the Gripen Programme in Brazil and reflects the steady progress of the aircraft’s implementation in the Brazilian Air Force. By operating for the first time in a multinational exercise outside the country, Gripen reinforces interoperability among friendly air forces and contributes to defense cooperation in the region.” He further noted that Saab’s support for the Brazilian Air Force reaffirmed the value of their long-term partnership, focusing on technology transfer and the development of strategic capabilities for Brazil.
During the air defense missions, the F-39E Gripen aircraft assumed the critical role of safeguarding allied aircraft from simulated opposing forces. Lieutenant Colonel Vítor Bombonato, Commander of the 1st Air Defence Group (1º GDA), highlighted the advantages of Gripen E’s advanced systems and sensors, which enable effective data fusion and presentation to pilots for enhanced decision-making. “We gain superiority by sharing this information among the F-39E aircraft in our flight, maximizing our chances of victory,” he stated.
Preparation for the SALITRE exercise included prior training exercises in Brazil, where various Brazilian Air Force squadrons participated alongside the development of the Antofagasta scenario in a Gripen simulator located in Anápolis. Lieutenant Colonel Bombonato remarked, “Even though this was the first time Brazilian pilots had flown in this region, the operational environment felt very familiar. Another highlight is Gripen E’s extended range, allowing us to fly directly from Anápolis to Antofagasta without requiring in-flight refueling.”
Throughout the exercise, the Gripen fighters successfully completed over 50 sorties, accumulating more than 100 flight hours including both outbound and return ferry flights, achieving high aircraft availability rates.
