The Gripen E, named F-39E Gripen by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), was officially presented on October 23rd, during the celebrations of Aviators’ Day and the Brazilian Air Force Day, at Wing 1, in Brasília.
The aircraft flew over the air base after an air display of the Brazilian Smoke Squadron.
The ceremony was attended by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilian Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva; the Swedish Ambassador to Brazil, Johanna Brosmar-Skoogh; the Brazilian Air Force Commander, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez; Commander of the Swedish Air Force,Major General Carl-Johan Edström; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saab, Marcus Wallenberg; and President and CEO of Saab, Micael Johansson, among others.
“It is a great honour to see Gripen E at the ceremony in celebration to the Aviators’ Day and the Brazilian Air Force Day. I do not believe that there is a more appropriate occasion for this presentation, as it certainly means a lot to all Brazilian aviators to have the aircraft flying in the skies of Brazil”, stated Micael Johansson, CEO and President of Saab. “This is the result of a successful collaboration between Brazil and Sweden, and a great opportunity to further strengthen ties between the two countries.”
Lieutenant Brigadier Bermudez pointed out that the new fighter is soon ready to begin the operation by the FAB.
”The development and manufacture of the smart fighter has also been closely monitored by members of the Brazilian Air Force and involves professionals from several national companies. Therefore the 23rd of October is even more special this year, as we have the official presentation of the first F-39 Gripen that arrived in Brazil”.
The aircraft arrived in Brazil on September 20 and three days later made its first flight in the country, from Navegantes (Santa Catarina State) to Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo State), to continue the flight test programme.
In Brazil, the activities include tests on flight control and climate control systems, as well as tests on the aircraft in tropical climatic conditions. In addition to the tests that are common to a Gripen E programme aircraft, unique characteristics of the Brazilian aircraft will be also tested, such as armaments integration and the Link BR2 communication system – which provides encrypted data and voice communication to the aircraft.
The first fighters will be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force, at Wing 2, in Anápolis (Goiás State), at the end of 2021.
image courtesy of Saab
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Post written by: Matt Brown
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