Saab’s first two-seat Gripen F fighter has been rolled out at the company’s Linkoping final assembly site in Sweden already sporting its Brazilian air force markings.
Revealed on 2 June, the single-engined jet – which has the service registration 4000 – has yet to be flown for the first time.
“The aircraft will be transferred to Saab’s Flight Test Centre in Sweden, where it will start a dedicated flight-test campaign” prior to its delivery to the Brazilian air force, the airframer says.
Saab notes that the two-seat version “has been developed to meet the training and operational requirements of modern air forces by combining conversion training and combat capability on the same platform”. That process included extensive joint design work conducted with Brazilian industrial partner Embraer.
Developed from the single-seat Gripen E already in operational service in Brazil and Sweden, the F-model features what Saab describes as a “fully independent second cockpit”, which it says “enables instructor-guided missions in a fully operational fighter, giving trainee pilots realistic live mission conditions”.
“Consequently, pilot conversion and preparatory training can be dramatically accelerated compared to conventional time, while enhancing operational effectiveness in high-threat environments through shared workload and improved mission command,” the airframer adds.
“The roll-out of Gripen F represents a shared achievement between Saab, Brazilian industry and the Brazilian air force, reflecting the deep trust we have built together over many years,” says Saab Aeronautics head Lars Tossman.
“It represents not only a highly capable fighter for the Brazilian air force, but also the tangible outcome of sustained joint development and shared ambition,” he adds.
Tossman presented the lead Gripen F to Brazilian air force chief General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno during a roll-out event.
“Through an extensive transfer-of-technology programme, Brazil has trained hundreds of engineers and technicians while strengthening the advanced design and development expertise within its national industrial base,” Saab notes.
Under a contract signed in 2014, Brazil’s air force will receive a total of 28 single-seat Gripen Es, and eight-two-seat Fs. Saab says the service has to date taken delivery of 11 locally-named F-39Es. Meanwhile, a first Brazilian-assembled example was rolled out in late-March.
All of the customer’s Gripen Fs will be assembled in Linkoping.
Brazil will be the first of three already confirmed customers to introduce the Gripen F, with Colombia and Thailand also having signed E/F orders last year.
Notably, the Swedish air force is acquiring its new-generation fighters in the single-seat guise only, with 60 Gripen Es ordered.
Ukraine also recently advanced its interest in acquiring a mixed fleet of E/Fs and earlier-model Gripen C/Ds. On 28 May, plans were disclosed which could lead to Kyiv taking up to 16 secondhand C/Ds from Stockholm, along with potentially 20 new-build fighters.
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