Saab and Brazilian Air Force unveil first co-developed Gripen F

Brazilian engineers have helped to develop the two-seat aircraft, which will enter flight testing before delivery to the air force.

Saab has unveiled the first Gripen F fighter under the Brazilian Air Force's Gripen programme, highlighting more than a decade of industrial cooperation between the Swedish aerospace industry and the Brazilian government.

Rolled out at Saab's Linköping facility on 2 June, the two-seat variant of the Gripen E has been designed to combine advanced pilot training with front-line combat capability, allowing operational missions and conversion training to be conducted on the same platform.

Brazil has played a central role in the programme as launch customer, contributing directly to development work through a long-running technology transfer initiative that has trained hundreds of engineers and technicians while expanding domestic aerospace expertise.

“The rollout 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. Developing this aircraft together demonstrates the maturity of this collaboration. 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,” says Lars Tossman, head of Aeronautics at Saab.

The aircraft shares the performance, sensors and systems architecture of the single-seat Gripen E but adds a fully independent rear cockpit, enabling instructor-guided missions in an operational fighter environment. Saab says the configuration can accelerate pilot conversion while improving mission effectiveness through workload sharing and enhanced command capabilities.

The aircraft will now move to Saab's Flight Test Centre in Sweden for a dedicated flight test campaign before delivery.

Brazil's 2014 Gripen agreement covers 36 aircraft, including 28 Gripen E and eight Gripen F fighters. Deliveries began in 2020 and 11 aircraft have so far been handed over to the Brazilian Air Force. Saab has since secured Gripen F orders from Thailand and Colombia.