Brazilian Gripen E Presented on Aviator's Day
In a triple celebration, the new Brazilian Gripen E (F-39E) was presented on Aviator's Day and the Brazilian Air Force Day which was held at Wing 1, Brazil, on October 23rd. The event was attended by important figures including Jair Bolsonaro and Fernando Azevedo e Silva, the Brazilian President and Brazilian Defence Minister, respectively.
The presentation of the first Brazilian Gripen E was marked by a flyby at the venue which made for a grand spectacle for the attendees. The fighter arrived in Brazil on 20th September followed by its first flight in Brazilian airspace, three days later.
Saab CEO, Micael Johansson, who also attended the ceremony, said “It is a great honour to see Gripen E at the ceremony in celebration to the Aviators’ Day and the Brazilian Air Force Day. I do not believe that there is a more appropriate occasion for this presentation, as it certainly means a lot to all Brazilian aviators to have the aircraft flying in the skies of Brazil.”
"This is the result of a successful collaboration between Brazil and Sweden, and a great opportunity to further strengthen ties between the two countries," he added.
The event was also covered and aired live by the Brazilian Air Force.
BR Aviation, the main fuel provider for the FAB also supplied the fuel for the Gripen on the day of the event, marking the first fuel supply of the aircraft on Brazilian soil. The company will also be responsible for supply of fuel for the rest of the Gripen fighters in the future, reports Poder Aereo.
Gripen will continue its flight test programme in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, where flight control, weapons integration, and climate control system, among others, will be tested. The first fighters will be delivered to the FAB by end of 2021.
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