Brazil has logged the first flight of a domestically-assembled supersonic fighter jet, a milestone for the South American nation. The single-seat Saab Gripen E, which flew on October 6, was produced by Embraer at its final assembly site in Gãviato Peixoto, São Paulo, which is set to build at least 14 more units for Brazil, with potential to support other customers worldwide.
Embraer’s Gripen production facility opened in May 2023, becoming the second assembly location worldwide and complementing Saab’s existing line in Linköping, Sweden. São Paulo’s first completed aircraft was rolled out from the line in March 2026. According to Marcus Wandt, head of Saab Aeronautics, the first flight “shows that Gripen production in Brazil has reached a new level of maturity” while establishing “a solid foundation for Gripen’s future development in Brazil.”
While Embraer engineers were responsible for the flight planning and execution, Saab said that the sortie—which aimed to verify the aircraft’s basic system functions and assess its initial performance—was “classified as the fighter’s first production acceptance test”. Following a production acceptance flight campaign, the aircraft will become the first Brazilian-built Gripen to enter operational service from Anápolis Air Force Base. Here, the 1st Air Defence Group currently operates ten Gripen Es, designated the F-39E in Brazilian service.
Future Production Potential?
Brazil signed for Gripen back in 2014, becoming the type’s first export customer with a contract comprising 28 single-seat E and eight twin-seat F units. At the time, Saab noted that the associated technology transfer to Brazilian industry would be performed over approximately ten years. While the first Swedish-built Gripen was imported from Linköping in 2020, 15 of Brazil’s E variants are to be built in São Paulo.
In March 2026, Saab CEO Micael Johansson said that any future Brazilian Gripen orders will be produced at Gãviato Peixoto. Four months later, Embraer and Saab signed an agreement for the potential production of additional Gripen in Brazil. “We are well positioned to support increased production capacity, if demand requires it,” Embraer Defense & Security CEO Bosco da Costa Junior said.
Separately, on October 8, GKN Aerospace – which provides the GE F414 engine powering the Gripen E/F – signed a long-term collaboration agreement with Saab. This, says GKN, gives it a broader role as engine partner within the aircraft program.
Colombia is another South American customer for the Gripen E, having signed a deal for 15 of the type in November 2025, along with a pair of F models.
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