Brazil marked a significant milestone on Wednesday by unveiling the first Gripen supersonic fighter jet assembled within its borders, becoming the first Latin American nation to achieve this feat. The project began after Brazil signed a contract in 2014 with Swedish defense company Saab, selecting the Gripen over competitors such as Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet and France’s Dassault Rafale to modernize its aging fighter jet fleet.
By joining the ranks of countries like the United States, France, Russia, India, and China, Brazil now stands among the few nations capable of producing supersonic fighter aircraft. The agreement with Saab includes the production of 15 out of the 36 jets at Embraer’s Gaviao Peixoto facility in São Paulo state, facilitated through a technology transfer arrangement.
Notably, Saab anticipates that the Brazilian production line will serve as an export hub for the region, a strategy reinforced by a recent deal for Colombia to acquire Gripen fighters. Saab’s CEO, Micael Johansson, highlighted the historic nature of this development, stating it is the first time since Saab’s founding in 1937 that a fighter aircraft is manufactured outside Sweden.
This production line reflects Brazil’s expanding ambitions in military aviation, complementing Embraer’s success with the C-390 Millennium cargo jet, which has attracted interest from European buyers. The Gripen project thus represents a key step in strengthening Brazil’s defense industry and its position in the global aerospace market.
