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Brazilian Gripen E Completes First Flight

SHAH ALAM: First Brazilian Gripen E Completes its First Flight. An export version of the Gripen E, for Brazil, conducted its flight on Aug. 26, according to Saab. The possible candidate for RMAF MRCA,
flew for the first time for a 65 minutes test flight.

From Saab:

First Brazilian Gripen E on its maiden flight. Saab.

Saab today completed a successful first flight with the first Brazilian Gripen E fighter aircraft, 39-6001. At 2.41 pm CET on August 26, the Gripen E aircraft took off on its maiden flight flown by Saab test pilot Richard Ljungberg. The aircraft operated from Saab´s airfield in Linköping, Sweden.

The duration of the flight was 65 minutes and included test points to verify basic handling and flying qualities at different altitudes and speeds. The main purpose was to verify that the aircraft behavior was according to expectations.

“This milestone is a testament to the great partnership between Sweden and Brazil. Less than five years since the contract was signed, the first Brazil Gripen has conducted her first flight,” says Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO of Saab.

This aircraft is the first Brazilian production aircraft and will be used in the joint test program as a test aircraft. The main differences compared to the previous test aircraft are that 39-6001 has a totally new cockpit layout, with a large Wide Area Display (WAD), two small Head Down Displays (sHDD) and a new Head Up Display (HUD). Another major difference is an updated flight control system with updated control laws for Gripen E. It also includes modifications both in hardware and software.

“For me as a pilot it has been a great honour to fly the first Brazilian Gripen E aircraft as I know how much this means for the Brazilian Air Force and everyone at Saab and our Brazilian partners. The flight was smooth and the aircraft behaved just as we have seen in the rigs and simulators. This was also the first time we flew with the Wide Area Display in the cockpit, and I am happy to say that my expectations were confirmed,” says Saab test pilot Richard Ljungberg.

39-6001 will now join the test programme for further envelope expansion as well as testing of tactical system and sensors.

39-6001 will be designated F-39 in the Brazilian Air Force and will have the tail number 4100.

First Brazilian Gripen E landing after its first flight. Saab

The first ever flight of the Gripen E happened on June 15, 2017. With another two Gripen Es on flight test, the first Brazilian Gripen E is the fourth version undergoing the same tests.

Gripen E

With RMAF MRCA programme delayed to 2030, the Gripen E remained a potential candidate. A possible candidate? Yes with the government looking to barter trade palm oil for arms, who knows whether Saab will be interested to even put forward a proposal when the competition is open up for bids.

— Malaysian Defence

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Tags BrazilGripen EMRCASaab
Marhalim Abas: Shah Alam

View Comments (26)

  • 2030.

    What kind of fighters will be around in 2030?

    There would probably be thousands of F-35 already built. Singapore should have its 1st F-35 squadron operational by then.

    China would have multiple squadrons of J-20. Carrier based J-31 versions would probably already operational then.

    Indonesia, as the economically strongest south east asian nation then, would have built plenty its own stealthy K-FX versions, replacing its F-16s.

    Vietnam would by then already bought the Su-57E, as the export version is going to be shown in MAKS 2019 any day from now.

    Turkey probably has completed its TF-X by then.

    So in 2030 would you be excited to buy a Gripen E? If we are in 2030 to still be in deep trouble that we need to barter our palm oil, our country is to be the worst economy in SEA.

    Reply
    Yes I am still excited with the Gripen E in 2030. The other planes you mentioned apart from the F35, Russia and China ones remained paper planes as off now, who knows whether they'll be actual flying planes or not.

  • If we're going to get it in 2030, then nope. Because it would soon come up against 5th gen stealth fighters. Better to wait and stump up for our own 5th gen fighters as well.

  • @ marhalim

    Russian and china only paper planes?

    Russia will be showing its Su-57 export version in MAKS 2019 today.

    China already has 1 operational squadron of J-20

    Korean / indonesian KF-X first flight is planned in June 2022 (you know how koreans work dont you?)

    The paper planes are the TF-X, Tempest (which sweden has joined as a partner), airbus/dassault New Generation Fighter (NGF).

  • What is the point of purchasing expensive-to-maintain fighters that we cannot afford than practical reliable aircrafts that really patrolling our air space routinely?

    Reply
    Because we did not allocate enough funds to maintain them properly. As for the Flankers apart from the lack of money we are also operating a specialised variant that needs more care than we actually prepared for though it appears that we have turn the corner

  • "China already has 1 operational squadron of J-20"

    So they say, but the fact is they are still experimenting with the concept and evaluating the aircraft itself. Until they have, the aircraft won't be built in large numbers. It might be a follow on design that gets built instead.

    "Russia will be showing its Su-57 export version in MAKS 2019 today."

    Yes but development is far from complete. The Russians will have to push on with it because they have no other next generation design going for them. I would say much progress would have been made by 2030, but would not speculate on which specific customers would have bought it.

    "Indonesia, as the economically strongest south east asian nation then, would have built plenty its own stealthy K-FX versions, replacing its F-16s."

    They've withdrawn from the project. ROK will be going it alone, IMO this a good thing for the final product because the design won't be diluted by conflicting requirements.

    "So in 2030 would you be excited to buy a Gripen E? "

    I won't rule it out for us. The fact is that conventional aircraft have roles to play in concert with low observable aircraft and all the other necessary assets, and that some countries might well have no requirement at all for the latter, even if they can afford it. No country is going to have an all low-observable fleet.

    Even if we did get a next generation platform, it wouldn't be the solution to everything we need and it won't be something we could afford to fly every day. Meaning we would need a Gripen, Viper, Super Hornet or something else.

  • Really liking the Gripen E/F especially with those wide area display. Been watching their YT channel and see their collaboration with Brazillian company, it's so profesionally done if I'm being honest. Personally, I would rather take Gripen any day than Rafale or Typhoon.

  • @ AM

    " The fact is that conventional aircraft have roles to play in concert with low observable aircraft and all the other necessary assets, and that some countries might well have no requirement at all for the latter, even if they can afford it. No country is going to have an all low-observable fleet "

    Obviously we cannot have an all low-observable fleet.

    We currently have our MKMs, and we are going to get our LCA/LIFT. Su-30SM now has renewed upgrade focus by the Russians, with plenty of Su-35 tech going into the Su-30SM. Things that can be put into the MKM too.

    MKM could be used up to 2040 at least. LCA/LIFT should be usable up to 2060. The future MRCA should have a capability different to the LCA/LIFT and MKMs. That could be just 1 thing, stealth. Gripen E does not bring any significant advantage to MKM or LCA/LIFT.

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