The first Gripen F multirole fighter jointly developed by Saab and Brazil has successfully completed its maiden flight in Linköping, Sweden. The test represents a major milestone as the two-seat fighter moves from production rollout toward a more extensive flight-test campaign.Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lt. Colonel Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos conducted the inaugural flight. The sortie lasted approximately 40 minutes and was used to verify fundamental aircraft systems and assess its initial airborne performance.The aircraft’s first flight followed its public rollout by about two months. Saab will now begin a progressive expansion of the aircraft’s flight envelope, covering parameters such as altitude, speed, G-load and angle of attack. The rear-seat systems and tactical functions will also be examined during upcoming tests.The Gripen F is part of the 2014 Saab-Brazil agreement for 36 fighter aircraft. Brazil’s order consists of 28 single-seat Gripen E fighters and eight two-seat Gripen F aircraft, combining operational combat capability with an advanced training configuration.Brazil has also developed domestic manufacturing capabilities for the Gripen family. The country presented its first locally produced Gripen E in March 2026 and later indicated interest in acquiring another 20 aircraft that would be produced in Brazil.The two-seat Gripen F shares the Gripen E’s mission systems and overall performance while providing a second cockpit for instructors and trainee pilots. This allows the aircraft to perform advanced training missions while retaining the capabilities required for operational combat roles.In addition to Brazil, Colombia and Thailand have ordered the Gripen aircraft family, expanding the international customer base for the Swedish-Brazilian fighter program.
