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Gripen
Brazil has expressed “intention and interest” in acquiring up to 20 more Saab Gripen fighters, bolstering its existing order for 36 aircraft, Sweden Defense Minister Pal Jonson has confirmed.
Speaking June 4 as the two countries signed a declaration of intent to further tighten their defense relationship, Jonson said Brazil had shown interest “to go beyond the 36 that have been ordered and delivered, and these would be made in Brazil,” he said.
Brazilian Defense Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro did not confirm Jonson’s statements but said the two countries had achieved success through the Gripen program.
“We have been working 14 years together, overcoming difficulties jointly, respecting the limits and developing the potentialities,” Mucio said. “We’ll be doing a lot more together.”
As part of the enhanced defense relationship, Mucio said Saab would be opening a research and development facility at San Jose des Campos, Brazil, developing new systems for upgrades and maintenance for the Gripen.
Brazil has long wanted to further grow the size of the planned Gripen fleet beyond 36 but has struggled with funding. A joint declaration published by the Swedish government last September confirmed that discussions between the countries have “explored possibilities of Sweden supplying Brazil with complementary fighter aircraft and amending the existing contract for the FX-2 Project with a view to increasing the number of aircraft,” but never said how many were required.
Brazil has taken delivery of 11 of the 28 Gripen Es on order. It has also ordered eight two-seat Gripen Fs, the first of which was rolled out of Saab’s Linkoping facility on June 2.
Jonson said Brazil had been quicker to implement the Gripen into its military than Sweden had been, and that Sweden had been learning a great deal from the Brazilian operation of the platform.
Statements on more Brazilian orders emerged just days after Ukraine declared plans to press forward with its Gripen E purchase using European Union loans. Sweden is also looking to acquire another 12 aircraft on top of the 60 it is already buying to offset the potential transfer of 16 Gripen C/D model aircraft to Ukraine, potentially as soon as next year.
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