Saab và Embraer sẽ collaborate to boost technology and expertise for C-390 transport aircraft and future Gripen fighters. Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab and Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 11 to enhance cooperation in various areas, including engineering and business development opportunities for the C-390 transport aircraft and upcoming Gripen fighters.
The MoU was unveiled at the LAAD defense and security exhibition held in Rio de Janeiro. The two companies will work together to promote the C-390 Millennium aircraft as the preferred option for the Swedish Air Force’s tactical air transportation requirements. Saab equipment and systems will be assessed for integration into the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft as part of the MoU. The C-390 Millennium aircraft is a medium-sized military cargo plane capable of carrying up to 26 tons of payload, reaching speeds of 470 knots, and covering long distances. Its range of missions spans from cargo and troop transport to medical evacuations, search and rescue operations, firefighting efforts, and humanitarian missions.
The C-390 can also operate from temporary or unpaved runways, including packed earth, soil, and gravel, providing advantages in challenging environments. The KC-390 has successfully undergone aerial refueling both as a refueling tanker and as a receiver of fuel from another KC-390 equipped with pods beneath its wings. The aircraft has achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC), indicating that the project has met all specified requirements and the aircraft is capable of effectively carrying out all intended missions. In 2014, Saab signed a contract with the Brazilian Government to supply 36 Gripen aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force.
This initiative is hailed as Saab’s most extensive technology transfer, as the deal also includes logistics support, weaponry, support systems, simulators, training, and development. Saab’s Gripen program is fostering the growth of Brazil’s defense industry through local companies, with Embraer serving as its primary strategic partner. The Gripen E is a versatile aircraft system designed for forward-thinking air forces, incorporating advanced combat systems for contested environments. The first Brazilian Gripen E fighter completed its maiden flight at Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden, in August 2019. The aircraft was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force for testing in September 2019.
The recent announcement of collaboration in engineering and future fighter studies will further solidify the technology transfer initiated by Saab for the Brazilian defense industry under the ongoing Gripen program for the Brazilian Air Force. In a press release issued on the same day, the companies stated that this development has the potential to bolster the expansion of the Gripen E program well into 2060 and address requirements for future fighter aircraft. The companies aim to attract clients in Brazil and Latin America, utilizing the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN), the Gripen Flight Test Center (GFTC), and the final assembly line at Embraer in Gavião Peixoto.