Amazing ! Brazil is seeking to increase its F-39 order with a total of 70 Gripen NG

Amazing ! Brazil is seeking to increase its F-39 order with a total of 70 Gripen NG

In a ceremony held today, April 22, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro christened two SAAB F-39 Gripen aircraft, which had just arrived in Brazil, to be entered into the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).

The second batch of multi-mission aircraft arrived in Brazil on April 1. The ceremony was also attended by Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio, Commander of the Air Force, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, and members of the Air Force's highest command.

At the ceremony, the head of the FAB signaled that the Air Force was pushing to rapidly increase the number of Gripen orders. According to the commander, President Bolsonaro has approved changes to the initial contract, which will lead to an increase in the number of aircraft acquired from 36 to 40 units.

In addition, the Brigadier commented that studies have begun to acquire a second batch of Gripens of up to thirty units, as anticipated last December.

In parallel, we have started a preliminary study for the acquisition of the second batch of these aircraft to ensure that the decommissioning of the older aircraft does not cause us to lose the capacity to carry out our homeland defense missions,” said Baptista Junior.