Gripen Flight Test Centre
Gavião Peixoto (SP)
Inaugurated in 2020 with the arrival of the first Gripen in Brazil, the GFTC is part of the Gripen Technology Transfer Program and is integrated with the aircraft's test program being conducted by Saab in Linköping, Sweden, since 2017.
The center has a structure to collect real-time flight telemetry information in an encrypted manner so that the data can be analyzed by pilots, technicians, and engineers involved in the test campaign carried out in both Brazil and Sweden. This ensures that Saab can standardize all flight test procedures, allowing for increased efficiency and agility in capturing and sharing information.
Activities in Brazil include testing flight control systems and climatic systems, as well as evaluating the aircraft's performance in the tropical climate. Unique characteristics of the Brazilian aircraft are also being tested in the country, such as the armaments chosen by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), tactical systems and sensors, and the Link BR2 communication system—which provides encrypted data and voice communication between aircraft.
The Gripen 4100, the aircraft used for tests in Brazil, began its supersonic flight test phase in the country in March 2021, in designated test areas northwest of the GFTC area. These flights were conducted at high altitudes, above 5,000 meters.
The GFTC also successfully conducted the first Water Spray tests with the Gripen E, which verify the fighter's ability to operate in adverse conditions. During the exercise, the aircraft passed over a flooded runway at different speeds. This test helps identify the effects of water spray on the engines and other systems of the Gripen, ensuring there is no malfunction or ingestion of dangerous amounts of water during taxiing.
The center also conducted a series of flights at the Anápolis Air Base (BAAN) to test the aircraft's behavior and performance in high temperatures. The hot and dry climate flight test campaign aimed to validate engineers' predictive calculations regarding the external heat the aircraft can withstand in real situations.
In 2023, the city of Anápolis was chosen for these tests due to its climate, high altitude, and because it is where the fighters operate. The GFTC also conducted a campaign to test the Infrared Search and Track (IRST), a passive long-range target detection sensor. Two F-39 E Gripens and an F-5 simulated an aerial combat scenario to ensure the system could detect threats within the specified parameters.
The activities conducted in Brazil are part of the global flight test campaign for the Gripen E model, not just for the Brazilian fighters.