São Paulo, September 22 - Brazil's air force modernization efforts have taken a pivotal turn as the nation evaluates a potential acquisition of up to 12 second-hand Saab Gripen C/D fighter jets from Sweden to address the pressing need to retire its fleet of aging U.S.-made Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft. These Vietnam-era fighters, which have served as the backbone of Brazil's aerial defense since the 1980s, are increasingly unreliable due to escalating maintenance costs and obsolescent technology, creating an urgent capability gap in the Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB). With approximately 40 F-5s still operational but nearing the end of their service life, the Brazilian government is seeking interim solutions to sustain combat readiness while awaiting the full deployment of its advanced Gripen E/F program. This strategic pivot underscores Brazil's commitment to enhancing its fighter jet capabilities amid regional security dynamics in South America, where aerial superiority remains crucial for border surveillance, disaster response, and potential interoperability with NATO allies. The proposed Gripen C/D deal, valued at an estimated several hundred million dollars, would provide a bridge of multirole fighters equipped with modern avionics, radar systems, and precision weaponry, ensuring seamless integration with Brazil's existing Gripen ecosystem.
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The Saab Gripen C/D variant, a proven lightweight multirole fighter renowned for its agility, cost-effectiveness, and low operational footprint, represents a pragmatic choice for Brazil's interim needs. Developed by Sweden's Saab AB, the Gripen C/D features a delta-canard configuration powered by the Volvo RM12 engine, enabling supersonic speeds exceeding Mach 2 and a combat radius of over 800 kilometers, far surpassing the F-5's limitations in range and payload. Brazil's familiarity with the Gripen platform stems from its landmark 2014 FX-2 program contract, a $5.4 billion agreement to procure 36 Gripen E/F jets, 28 single-seat E models, and eight dual-seat F variants, with deliveries ongoing since 2019. As of mid-2025, the FAB operates 10 F-39E Gripens, with the remaining 26 slated for completion by 2027, including 15 assembled locally at Embraer's Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo under a technology transfer initiative. This domestic production line, inaugurated in 2023, not only bolsters Brazil's aerospace industry but also positions the country as a regional hub for Gripen manufacturing, potentially exporting to neighbors like Colombia, which signed a letter of intent for Gripen E/F in April 2025. The C/D acquisition would leverage this synergy, allowing for shared logistics, training, and maintenance protocols that minimize lifecycle costs estimated at under $5,000 per flight hour, significantly lower than competitors like the F-16.
Negotiations for the used Gripen C/D jets gained momentum following a high-level visit by FAB Commander Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno to Stockholm in September 2025, where he met Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson and formalized a bilateral defense cooperation declaration. While the declaration highlighted Sweden's procurement of four Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft—reciprocating Brazil's Gripen investments, the talks discreetly advanced the fighter transfer, drawing from Sweden's surplus inventory of upgraded C/D models. These jets, operational in the Swedish Air Force until at least 2030 following recent avionics and engine enhancements, would undergo refurbishment to meet FAB standards, including integration with Brazilian-developed mission systems. This move aligns with Brazil's regulatory framework, limiting fighter types to two or three, preserving the Gripen as the primary platform while phasing out the F-5 and AMX A-1 attack jets. Amid broader fleet expansion ambitions, a November 2024 letter of intent signaled Brazil's intent to increase its Gripen order by 25% to 45 aircraft, potentially incorporating the C/D batch as a cost-efficient accelerator. Such reciprocity in defense trade exemplifies the deepening Sweden-Brazil partnership, fostering industrial offsets that have already generated thousands of jobs in Brazil's aviation sector through Embraer-Saab collaboration.
As Brazil navigates this Gripen deal, the implications extend beyond immediate fleet renewal to long-term strategic autonomy in Latin American fighter jet procurement. By opting for battle-tested Gripens over pricier new-build alternatives, the FAB aims to allocate resources toward unmanned systems, cyber defense, and sustainable aviation fuels, aligning with President Lula da Silva's vision for a technologically sovereign air force. The transaction, expected to conclude by late 2025, could set a precedent for regional allies, accelerating Gripen adoption across South America and countering U.S. dominance in the hemisphere's aerial inventories. With full operational integration projected within 18 months of signing, this acquisition promises to restore Brazil's multirole fighter prowess, ensuring robust deterrence in an era of evolving threats from narco-trafficking routes to Arctic resource competitions. Ultimately, the Brazil-Saab Gripen evolution not only retires relics like the F-5 but heralds a new chapter in affordable, high-performance aerial defense tailored for the 21st century.
