The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has announced the start of operational activities of its Gripen E fighter aircraft.
FAB held a ceremony on 19 December at the Anápolis Air Base (BAAN) marking the beginning of operational activities of the Gripen E fighters (referred to as Gripen F-39 in Brazil) by the First Air Defense Group (1st GDA).
The operational activity comes around nine years after the Brazilian government selected Swedish aerospace firm Saab to deliver 36 Gripen E/F fighters.
“The start of operational activities with Gripen E by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is an extremely important day. It marks the beginning of a new operational era for FAB but also is the result of years of hard work done in partnership with the Air Force and with our Brazilian industry partners – Embraer, AEL Sistemas, Akaer, Atech, and our own subsidiaries in Brazil,” said Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson.
At the event, two Gripen fighters conducted a presentation flight led by FAB pilots Lieutenant Colonel Gustavo Pascotto, Commander of the 1st GDA, and Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Lincoln Santos Fórneas.
The Brazilian pilots completed their training with Gripen E in Sweden.
The Brazilian Air Force commander, Lt. Brig. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior, said that the start of operations of the Gripen is “a milestone” for its service, stressing that these fighters will provide “operational capabilities that Brazil never had.”
The Air Force chief emphasized “the advanced technology incorporated into the F-39 to satisfy the country’s requirements, as well as its great efficiency, high availability, and low cost of operation.”