The inaugural flight of the first Gripen fighter produced outside Sweden was successfully completed at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto aerodrome in São Paulo State on 6 October at 10:21 local time.
Operated by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg, the flight was conducted to evaluate the aircraft’s essential systems and to assess its initial performance. This sortie was designated as the fighter’s first production acceptance test, marking a pivotal moment in the final phase of the manufacturing process at Embraer.
Flight planning and execution were managed by Embraer flight engineers, with support from Saab, underscoring a significant achievement in the technology transfer initiative under the Gripen program for Brazil.
“This maiden flight demonstrates that Gripen production in Brazil has attained a significant level of maturity. I am proud of our strong partnership with Embraer in the Gripen program, which lays a robust foundation for Gripen’s future advancements in Brazil,” stated Marcus Wandt, head of Saab’s business area Aeronautics.
“The first flight of a Gripen E produced in Brazil by Embraer is a historic watershed for the nation’s aerospace and defense industry. It validates the success of a robust long-term strategy that merged the Brazilian Air Force’s vision with Saab’s technological acumen and Embraer’s engineering and industrial capabilities,” remarked Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Following this production acceptance flight campaign, the aircraft is set to undergo certification and will be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). It will be stationed at Anápolis Air Force Base in Goiás State, joining the First Air Defence Group (1st GDA) which is currently operating 10 Gripen fighters.
This aircraft, which is slated for official presentation on 25 March 2026 by Embraer, is the first of 15 Gripen fighters to be assembled in Brazil under the ongoing program. Embraer boasts the only supersonic fighter production line in South America and plays a crucial role in Saab’s global manufacturing and supply chain network.
