First Gripen E produced in Brazil completes maiden flight
The first Gripen E fighter aircraft produced outside Sweden has completed its maiden flight in Brazil. The flight verified the aircraft's basic system functions.
The first Gripen E fighter aircraft produced outside Sweden has successfully completed its maiden flight in Brazil. The aircraft, a result of the collaboration between Saab AB and Embraer, took off from Embraer's Gavião Peixoto aerodrome in São Paulo State on October 6 at 10:21 local time.
Flown by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg, the sortie was aimed at verifying the aircraft's basic system functions and assessing its initial performance. This flight represents a significant step in the international expansion of the Gripen program.
The production of the Gripen E in Brazil is part of a broader initiative to establish manufacturing capabilities beyond Sweden. This first flight is a crucial phase in the aircraft's production acceptance testing before its final delivery to the customer, the Brazilian Air Force.