Gripen final assembly line
Gavião Peixoto (SP)
The production line for the F-39 Gripen E was inaugurated in Brazil on May 9, 2023. This marks another historic milestone in the F-39 Gripen program, establishing the first production line for the fighter outside of Sweden.
The production line for the F-39 Gripen E was inaugurated in Brazil on May 9, 2023. This marks another historic milestone in the F-39 Gripen program, establishing the first production line for the fighter outside of Sweden.
Located at Embraer's facilities in Gavião Peixoto, in the interior of São Paulo, the line occupies a hangar dedicated exclusively to this activity, which is being conducted by Embraer employees trained by Saab in Linköping, Sweden, through the technology transfer and industrial cooperation program defined in the Gripen acquisition contract.
Approximately 200 employees are directly involved, with 60 dedicated to the production area as operators, supervisors, and managers, and the rest providing support in production engineering, supplies, logistics, quality, administration, and other areas.
Saab and Embraer have been working closely together since the beginning of the implementation. Studies were conducted to align company procedures and methodologies in technical, industrial, and quality areas, among others. The inauguration of the F-39 Gripen fighter production line in Brazil took place on May 9th, 2023.
The aerostructures produced by Saab in São Bernardo do Campo, such as the tail cone, air brakes, forward fuselage, and aft fuselage, along with those manufactured by Saab in Linköping, Sweden, as well as components and systems such as landing gear, engines, and avionics, are assembled at the Gavião Peixoto plant.
The production line uses industrial procedures and equipment similar to those found in Sweden. The industrial work includes joining four structural assemblies: the aft fuselage, the central wing fuselage, the cannon unit, and the forward fuselage. After that, cabling, equipment, systems, landing gear, avionics, canopy, ejection seats, radar, engine, and other components are installed. Finally, the aircraft undergoes functional tests and production flights in preparation for final delivery to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
A total of 15 units of the Gripen E will be produced in Brazil, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2025. In addition, examples of potential new orders from the FAB and acquisitions of the Gripen E by Latin American countries may also be assembled. The new production line opens doors for making Brazil a center for fighter aircraft production.