Ten years ago, the federal government and the Swedish manufacturer Saab signed a contract to purchase 36 fighters for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). There are 28 category E (single-seater) and eight F (two-seater) aircraft, which should be delivered by 2027.
The delay must be due to the lack of budgetary resources to pay for the deal that was closed for 39.8 billion Swedish crowns — today equivalent to just over R$21 billion. According to a source from Planalto, CNNthe arrival of the last aircraft should only happen at the beginning of the 2030s.
To date, eight category E units have been received by the FAB. The fighters, which have just one seat, are 15.2 meters long and 8.6 meters wide.
Empty, the aircraft weighs eight tons. Meanwhile, it can be twice as much at takeoff: 16.5 tons — counting all the equipment, fuel and the soldier on board. The maximum thrust is 98 kN (about 9,993 kilograms).
The aircraft has 10 hardpoints — spaces in the wing or fuselage for transporting cargo, such as engines, ammunition, equipment, among others. The plane is equipped with a Mauser BK27 mm cannon.
The Gripen F, in turn, has three main differences with the Gripen E:
- Number of occupants: Gripen E: one x Gripen F: two
- Greeting: Gripen E: 15.2 meters x Gripen F: 15,9 metros
- Cannon: Gripen E: Mauser BK27 mm x Gripen F: it does not have
How does Gripen work?
The fighter flies at supersonic speed, with a range of 4,000 kilometers, and can be refueled in the air. The current version of Gripen can still carry 40% more fuel than the previous one. The F414G engine has a power output of up to 22 thousand pounds.
Its maximum speed is Mach 2 (2,500 km/h).
To perform a landing, Gripen needs 600 meters and can operate on small runways or even roads. In about ten minutes, the fighter can be rearmed, refueled and returned to combat.
During maintenance, there is no need for a ladder to access aircraft components. The access panels are at a suitable height for the person responsible to carry out maintenance while standing. A turbine change, for example, can happen in less than an hour, according to the FAB.
See more details about Gripen:
Network-Centric Warfare
In its conception, the Gripen was designed to operate in the so-called Central Network War, when squadrons fly digitally connected via datalink. In other words, when a fighter flies in a strategic position it can share data from its sensors with other aircraft.
It is possible for one plane to launch a missile based on information passed on by another.
The combat radius is 800 nm (nautical miles), approximately 1,500 kilometers. Taking off from the 1st Air Defense Group, at Anápolis Air Base (GO), the fighters can attack targets in all states of the Central-West, Southeast and South, as well as part of the North and Northeast.
