Brazil is likely to purchase nine additional Saab JAS 39 E/F Gripens, according to a 9 November statement by the Swedish Ministry of Defence (MoD), adding to its 2014 order for 36 of the multirole fighters.
Brazilian Minister of Defence José Múcio and Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson signed a letter of intent to “expand their co-operation in the aerospace area” on 9 November in Natal, Brazil, simultaneously laying out Brazil’s intent to purchase more Gripens and Sweden’s intent to purchase an undisclosed number of Embraer C-390 Millennium tanker/transport aircraft. Sweden selected the Brazilian-built C-390 to replace its fleet of six Lockheed Martin C-130Hs.
The procurement process for the C-390s to replace the Sweden’s aging C-130s will begin after the letter signing, although the exact quantity has not been disclosed.
Last year, Saab and Embraer signed a partnership to modify the C-390 for the Swedish Air Force and explore the aircraft’s potential sale to other Latin American countries.
Meanwhile, Brazil signed a contract with Saab in 2014 to acquire 36 JAS-39 Gripen fighters, with induction by the Brazilian Air Force beginning in 2022.
Deliveries are still ongoing with eight being delivered so far.
In 2023, a production line for the F-39 Gripen E was inaugurated in Brazil, the first to be established outside of Sweden.
“Aerospace cooperation is important to both Sweden and Brazil. The new letter of intent provides a basis for us to further deepen this cooperation,” Swedish defense minister Pål Jonson said during the agreement signing with Brazilian counterpart José Múcio in Natal, Brazil.
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