Newly-built fighter aircraft conducts maiden flight, mission verified performance of main systems

The maiden flight of the first Gripen E fighter aircraft produced in Brazil has been successfully completed.

The aircraft, produced by Embraer and Saab, took off from Embraer’s industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, State of São Paulo. The mission verified the performance of its main systems and validated its flight characteristics.

First flight of a Gripen E produced in Brazil

“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.

“More than an achievement for the Gripen Program, this milestone demonstrates that the competencies developed over the years have become real and proven industrial capabilities in Brazil, strengthening our Defense Industrial Base and our ability to participate in highly complex global defense programs.”

The milestone represents an important achievement for the Gripen Program and for Brazil’s aerospace and defense industry. It reflects the Brazilian Air Force’s strategic decision to structure the program around technology transfer, strong local industrial participation and the development of long-term national competencies. Over more than a decade, this approach has enabled the establishment of critical infrastructure, knowledge and industrial expertise in Brazil, which have evolved into an established capability to manufacture, integrate and test a next-generation fighter aircraft, strengthening the country’s aerospace and defense industrial base, according to a press release.

Embraer played key role in executing the maiden flight

Embraer played a key role in planning and executing the maiden flight, demonstrating the maturity of the capabilities developed through the Gripen Program and the close cooperation among Embraer, the Brazilian Air Force and Saab. Conducted by a Saab test pilot, the flight confirmed the aircraft’s expected performance and generated data for the continuation of the production flight-test and acceptance campaign ahead of delivery to the Brazilian Air Force, as per the release.

“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 Program, which establishes a solid foundation for Gripen’s future development in Brazil,” said Marcus Wandt, head of Saab’s Business Area Aeronautics.

Embraer also revealed that following completion of the production flight-test and acceptance campaign, the aircraft will be prepared for delivery to the Brazilian Air Force. It will subsequently be transferred to Anápolis Air Base, in Goiás State, where it will join the First Air Defense Group (1st GDA), which currently operates the Gripen E.

The program includes an extensive technology transfer and industrial cooperation initiative involving Brazilian engineers, technicians, and specialists working alongside Saab teams in areas ranging from development and engineering to manufacturing, integration, and flight testing.