Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
The first Saab Gripen E assembled in Brazil has completed its maiden flight from Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo state. Built through the Saab-Embraer partnership for Brazil’s air force, the aircraft is the first Gripen produced outside Sweden; the flight tested key systems and validated its flight characteristics.
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The first Saab Gripen E assembled in Brazil has completed its maiden flight from Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo state. Built through the Saab-Embraer partnership for Brazil’s air force, the aircraft is the first Gripen produced outside Sweden; the flight tested key systems and validated its flight characteristics.
Sweden’s air force is expanding its Gripen doctrine beyond defending national airspace, preparing to strike military targets deep inside Russia if Sweden comes under attack. The shift signals a broader concept of air warfare focused on taking the fight beyond Swedish territory.
The Swedish Air Force is adapting its Gripens to operate from dispersed locations and strike deep inside Russia if Sweden is attacked. The effort includes developing longer-range strike capabilities, reflecting a shift in how Sweden is preparing its air force for a high-intensity conflict.
Poland will introduce faster rules of engagement for airspace threats from October, while Sweden plans to deploy Gripen fighters over Poland from October 2026 under a NATO airspace-surveillance mission. The operation will support NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence and protect a logistics hub supporting Ukraine.
Canada has signed a nonbinding term sheet with Saab that establishes the framework for detailed negotiations over six GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The proposed fleet would be based on the Canadian-built Bombardier Global 6500, but no firm order has been signed.
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Saab says its RBS15 Mk4 anti-ship missile is ready for operational introduction with Sweden’s Gripen fighters, while the company signs space-focused MoUs with SSC Space, OHB Sweden and Ericsson. Separately, India has ordered additional SAT-SAAW glide bombs for its air force.
Saab is pursuing a larger role in the space sector by integrating technologies and services from multiple companies into complete systems. The Swedish defense group signed cooperation agreements with SSC Space, OHB Sweden and Ericsson, extending its aerospace ambitions beyond traditional defense activities.
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The Netherlands has signed a letter of intent for one Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, its first national AEW&C capability. The aircraft is planned for delivery in 2031 and operation with Sweden’s three GlobalEyes through shared aircraft, crews and procedures, supporting a future multinational NATO capability.
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