Mentioned:EmbraerSaab
Embraer flew the first Gripen E fighter assembled in Brazil on October 7, 2026, marking the maturation of the country's only fighter production line outside Sweden. The companies are simultaneously negotiating to produce 20 additional aircraft at the same facility.
What's happening
- Embraer completed maiden flight of the first Gripen E produced at its Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo State, with a Saab test pilot at the controls.
- The aircraft is the first of 15 fighters planned for production in Brazil under the existing 2014 contract covering 36 total aircraft, of which 10 have been delivered.
- On 21 July, Embraer and Saab announced a Heads of Agreement targeting production of 20 additional Gripen aircraft at Gavião Peixoto for domestic and international sales.
Why it matters
- Gavião Peixoto is the only Gripen production line outside Sweden, establishing Brazil as a secondary manufacturing hub and diversifying Saab's global supply chain.
- The programme combines technology transfer with permanent industrial capability building in Brazil, involving Brazilian engineers in development, engineering, manufacturing and flight testing alongside Saab teams.
- Expanding production to 20 additional aircraft positions the companies to respond to growing global demand for the Gripen E fighter.
Going deeper
- Brazil's 2014 contract comprises 28 single-seat Gripen E and 8 two-seat Gripen F aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2020.
- The newly produced aircraft will join the First Air Defense Group at Anápolis Air Base in Goiás State after completing the flight-test and acceptance campaign.
The fine print
- The 20 additional aircraft under the Heads of Agreement remain subject to negotiations towards new contracts and are not yet firm orders.
Source: defence-industry.eu · Oct 7, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.