Embraer flies first Brazil-built Gripen E fighter jet

Embraer and Sweden's Saab completed the maiden flight of the first Gripen E fighter jet assembled in Brazil on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The aircraft took off at 10:21 local time from Embraer's industrial plant in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo. Saab Chief Test Pilot Jakob Högberg piloted the aircraft, while Brazilian engineers planned and executed the flight path. The test assessed basic system functions and initial performance ahead of certification and delivery to the Brazilian Air Force.

The aircraft is the first of 15 jets scheduled for domestic assembly under the FX-2 program contract signed in 2014. The original deal covered 36 aircraft for about $3.77 billion through 2027, with the federal government later adding four units. The technology transfer initiative included training roughly 350 Embraer employees in Sweden, and Brazilian personnel now make up 90% of the local assembly team.

The test comes amid rising international demand for the Gripen platform. On July 21 at the Farnborough International Airshow, Embraer and Saab signed a preliminary agreement to assemble 20 additional jets in Brazil, aiming for a final contract before the end of 2026. Saab is also managing recent foreign orders, including a November 2025 deal with Colombia for 17 jets valued at 3.1 billion euros, a purchase by Thailand of four aircraft for around 5.3 billion Swedish kronor, and preliminary talks initiated in May regarding up to 20 units for Ukraine.

The Brazilian Air Force has already received 10 European-built units, stationed at the Anápolis Air Base in Goiás. Brazil's Ministry of Defense is reviewing deployment plans across other domestic bases and considering a possible second order for 26 additional aircraft.