Embraer and Saab announced a framework agreement for 20 additional Gripen at Farnborough.

Embraer and Saab took advantage of the Farnborough Airshow to announce a framework for the production of 20 additional JAS-39 Gripen fighters at Embraer’s facilities in the state of Sao Paulo.

At a glance

Partners: Swedish Saab and Brazilian Embraer.
Scope: framework to build 20 additional Gripen in Brazil.
Plant: Embraer’s Gaviao Peixoto facility in Sao Paulo.
Context: expansion of the Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) Gripen E/F program.
Significance: greater local assembly and technology transfer in Latin America.

Announcement details

The framework opens the door to an additional batch of 20 aircraft over Brazil’s current purchase, produced locally. Embraer conducts the final assembly and testing of the Gripen at Gaviao Peixoto, and the agreement aims to keep that industrial base active for a longer period.

The Saab-Embraer partnership stems from the F-X2 program launched by Brazil in 2014, under which the single-seat Gripen E and the two-seat Gripen F (designated F-39 in Brazil) enter service, with technology transfer and local production at its core.

System context

The JAS-39 Gripen E/F is a 4.5 generation fighter with AESA radar, an advanced electronic warfare package, and the capability to carry the long-range Meteor missile. Its low operational costs and ability to operate from short runways make it attractive for medium-sized air forces.

Brazilian production also creates a foundation for potential Gripen exports in Latin America, with growing regional interest following Colombia’s selection.

Why it matters

The Gripen’s export model, supported by local production, offers a competitive template in the fighter market that Turkey is pursuing with the HURJET and KAAN. As technology transfer and local assembly increasingly determine export bids, the Saab-Embraer approach is a well-established example.