First Gripen E produced in Brazil makes maiden flight

The first Gripen fighter built outside Sweden through the collaboration between Saab and Embraer, marks another milestone in the Gripen programme.

The first Gripen fighter built outside Sweden has taken to the skies, completing its historic maiden flight from Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto aerodrome in São Paulo State on 6 October at 10:21 local time.

Flown by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg, the sortie aimed to verify the aircraft’s basic system functions and assess its initial performance. The flight was classified as the fighter’s first production acceptance test and initiated the final phase of the manufacturing process at Embraer.

Embraer flight engineers were responsible for flight planning and execution, with support from Saab, marking another milestone in the technology transfer plan delivered by the Gripen programme to Brazil.

“This maiden flight shows that Gripen production in Brazil has reached a new level of maturity. I am proud of our close cooperation with Embraer in the Gripen programme, which establish a solid foundation for Gripen´s future development in Brazil,” says Marcus Wandt, head of Saab´s business area Aeronautics.

“This first flight of a Gripen E produced in Brazil by Embraer is a historic milestone for the country’s aerospace and defense industry. It confirms the success of a long-term strategy that combined the vision of the Brazilian Air Force, Saab’s technological expertise and Embraer’s engineering and industrial capabilities,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

photo courtesy Saab