Article written by Karen Andersson and Laura Rossi
The F-39E Gripen fighter planes, acquired by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), developed by the Swedish company Saab, arrived in Brazil last April (2022). The aircraft were transported via a Dutch cargo ship and received in the country with an event to commemorate and integrate the aircraft into the Brazilian Hunting Aviation., with the presence of President Jair Bolsonaro. The purchase of these new fighters aims to re-equip the country's aeronautical fleet and increase the FAB's operational capacity., since the old North American F-5 fighters, previously used by Brazil, are from the decade of 1980.
The process of obtaining the planes has lasted since 2014, when the Brazilian government bought the Swedish fleet for US $4,05 billion. In September 2021, the FAB finally received the first of 36 aircraft. And now, in 2022, planes are already flying through Brazilian airspace. The purchase of these new fighter jets symbolizes investment in the defense of the country and, added to that, will also have an impact in the areas of technological development and foreign trade. In addition, the acquisition will also be responsible for the generation of new jobs, moving the economy domestically.
In the area of ââtechnological development, it can be noted that some of the planes will be built in Brazil. For example, the panel that will equip the planes will be produced by AEL Sistemas, company from Rio Grande do Sul, also counting on the participation of other national companies. Some of these companies directly involved in the project are Embraer, Atech, Atmos, Inbra e Mectron, where the complete relation has more of 30 companies. in that list, there is still the engineering company Akaer, in which Saab currently has a slice of 25%. A Swedish manufacturer, in partnership with Akaer, US investment $150 million in a factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo (SP). In terms of creating new jobs, second one study prepared by the English consultancy PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), activities linked to the Gripen program could generate around 2,2 thousand direct jobs in the aerospace sector.
The military ceremony of presentation and reception of the fighters by the Brazilian Air Force, took place on the day of Fighter Aviation, which also marked the delivery of the Brigadeiro Nero Moura Operational Merit Medal. The official receipt of the aircraft was carried out by the Air Force commander, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, from the most efficient pilot award to those who excelled in fighter squadrons.
This entire acquisition process represents much more than just a mere transaction.. In addition to reflecting the strong trend towards greater militarization that Brazil is experiencing, also presupposes a greater consolidation of the Brazilian relationship with the Swedish nation, since the two countries have been strategic partners since 2009. Taking into account the successful purchase of Gripen fighters, it is very likely that other possible future transactions will be stimulated, in addition to increased communication and diplomatic relations with the Nordic country. In this way, it is a situation of mutual cooperation, where Sweden has the possibility to expand its commercial reach and international presence, while Brazil manages to strengthen its air force, move its economy and intensify its ties with an extremely developed country.
References
PEDUZZI, Pedro. âGripen fighters are already flying through Brazilian airspaceâ. Agency Brazil, 2022. Available in: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2022-04/cacas-gripen-ja-voam-pelo-espaco-aereo-brasileiro?amp
WINES, Thiago. âFAB receives first four F-39 Gripen fighters from Sweden's Saabâ. CNN, 2021. Available in: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/business/fab-recebe-quatro-primeiros-cacas-f-39-gripen-da-sueca-saab/
âUnderstand why the Swedish Gripen fighter is important for Brazilâ. Scandinavian way, 2019. Available in: https://scandinavianway.com.br/entenda-por-que-o-caca-sueco-gripen-e-importante-para-o-brasil/
Acquisition of Swedish Gripen fighters by the FAB and its relevance to Brazil
By Karen Andersson and Laura Rossi
The F-39E Gripen fighter planes, acquired by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), developed by the Swedish company Saab, arrived in Brazil last April (2022). The aircraft were transported via a Dutch cargo ship and received in the country with an event to commemorate and integrate the aircraft into the Brazilian Hunting Aviation., with the presence of President Jair Bolsonaro. The purchase of these new fighters aims to re-equip the country's aeronautical fleet and increase the FAB's operational capacity., since the old North American F-5 fighters, previously used by Brazil, are from the decade of 1980.
The process of obtaining the planes has lasted since 2014, when the Brazilian government bought the Swedish fleet for US $4,05 billion. In September 2021, the FAB finally received the first of 36 aircraft. And now, in 2022, planes are already flying through Brazilian airspace. The purchase of these new fighter jets symbolizes investment in the defense of the country and, added to that, will also have an impact in the areas of technological development and foreign trade. In addition, the acquisition will also be responsible for the generation of new jobs, moving the economy domestically.
In the area of ââtechnological development, it can be noted that some of the planes will be built in Brazil. For example, the panel that will equip the planes will be produced by AEL Sistemas, company from Rio Grande do Sul, also counting on the participation of other national companies. Some of these companies directly involved in the project are Embraer, Atech, Atmos, Inbra e Mectron, where the complete relation has more of 30 companies. in that list, there is still the engineering company Akaer, in which Saab currently has a slice of 25%. A Swedish manufacturer, in partnership with Akaer, US investment $150 million in a factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo (SP). In terms of creating new jobs, second one study prepared by the English consultancy PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), activities linked to the Gripen program could generate around 2,2 thousand direct jobs in the aerospace sector.
The military ceremony of presentation and reception of the fighters by the Brazilian Air Force, took place on the day of Fighter Aviation, which also marked the delivery of the Brigadeiro Nero Moura Operational Merit Medal. The official receipt of the aircraft was carried out by the Air Force commander, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, from the most efficient pilot award to those who excelled in fighter squadrons.
This entire acquisition process represents much more than just a mere transaction.. In addition to reflecting the strong trend towards greater militarization that Brazil is experiencing, also presupposes a greater consolidation of the Brazilian relationship with the Swedish nation, since the two countries have been strategic partners since 2009. Taking into account the successful purchase of Gripen fighters, it is very likely that other possible future transactions will be stimulated, in addition to increased communication and diplomatic relations with the Nordic country. In this way, it is a situation of mutual cooperation, where Sweden has the possibility to expand its commercial reach and international presence, while Brazil manages to strengthen its air force, move its economy and intensify its ties with an extremely developed country.
References
PEDUZZI, Pedro. âGripen fighters are already flying through Brazilian airspaceâ. Agency Brazil, 2022. Available in: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2022-04/cacas-gripen-ja-voam-pelo-espaco-aereo-brasileiro?amp
WINES, Thiago. âFAB receives first four F-39 Gripen fighters from Sweden's Saabâ. CNN, 2021. Available in: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/business/fab-recebe-quatro-primeiros-cacas-f-39-gripen-da-sueca-saab/
âUnderstand why the Swedish Gripen fighter is important for Brazilâ. Scandinavian way, 2019. Available in: https://scandinavianway.com.br/entenda-por-que-o-caca-sueco-gripen-e-importante-para-o-brasil/
