Brazil unveils first supersonic fighter jet assembled in country
Brazil became the first Latin American nation to build a supersonic fighter jet on Wednesday when it unveiled the first Gripen fighter jet assembled in the country.
With this achievement, Brazil marks a major milestone in its aerospace and defense industry by unveiling the first supersonic fighter jet assembled on its territory, and becoming the first country in Latin America to achieve domestic assembly of a modern supersonic combat aircraft.
The aircraft is part of a long-term procurement program launched in 2014, when Brazil selected the Gripen produced by Swedish defense group Saab over competing offers including the F-18 Super Hornet from Boeing and the Rafale manufactured by Dassault Aviation.
The acquisition is intended to replace Brazil’s aging fighter fleet and strengthen the country’s ability to defend its vast territory and strategic infrastructure.
Under the agreement, 36 Gripen jets were ordered, with 15 to be assembled locally at the facility operated by Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer in Gavião Peixoto – São Paulo state.
Central to the deal is a comprehensive technology transfer program that allows Brazilian engineers and technicians to participate directly in aircraft production, systems integration, and testing processes.
Defense officials and industry experts say the local assembly line represents a transformative step for Brazil’s ambitions in high-technology defense manufacturing.
It places the country among a relatively small group of nations capable of producing supersonic fighter aircraft, including the United States, France, Russia, India, and China, and signals growing industrial sophistication within Latin America’s largest economy.
Saab has indicated that the Brazilian production facility could evolve into a regional export hub for Gripen aircraft.
That prospect gained momentum following an agreement last year for neighboring Colombia to acquire the fighter jet, potentially strengthening defense cooperation and supply chains across South America.
The milestone also highlights the expanding global footprint of Brazil’s aerospace sector more broadly.
Embraer’s C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft has secured interest from several European customers, reflecting confidence in Brazilian engineering capabilities and the competitiveness of its defense products in international markets.
Analysts note that successful local assembly of the Gripen could pave the way for deeper participation in future fighter development program, as well as increased autonomy in maintenance, upgrades, and operational support, key factors for long-term national defense planning.
