Brazil to Buy 20 More Gripen Jets, All Single-Seat E Models

Brazil announced plans to buy an additional 20 Gripen jets on June 4, 2026. Brazilian Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro Filho stated that the new aircraft would all be single-seat E models. The announcement came days after the first Gripen F model was rolled out.

Brazil’s base order covered 28 E models and eight F models. Embraer assembles Gripens at its Gavião Peixoto facility, the only Gripen assembly line outside Sweden. The first Brazilian-produced Gripen E rolled off that line in March 2026.

Marcio Monteiro, chief marketing officer of Embraer’s defense division, said on June 11 that the company expects more production work to shift to Brazil. “We are actually expecting that more Gripen production will be offloaded to us,” he told Breaking Defense. ” The Gripen was originally selected by the Brazilian Air Force in 2014.

Saab later signed a technology-sharing agreement that allows some aircraft to be built domestically. Embraer is currently committed to deliver 15 Gripens to the Brazilian Air Force, Monteiro said. He added that the company believes it can do more to help Saab meet demand.