The Ministry of Defense’s budget foresees R$2.1 billion for the F-X2 (F-39 Gripen) fighter acquisition project in 2026. The resources will contribute to the delivery of two aircraft and to advance the assembly stages of units with deliveries scheduled in the coming years.
Of the total expected for 2026, R$1.357 billion was already foreseen in the 2026 Annual Budget Law and another R$739.5 million is foreseen in ordinance No. 184 of May 2026 of the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
Last week, the Swedish company Saab delivered to the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) the agreement signed with the Brazilian government in 2014 to modernize the country’s fighter fleet as part of the F-X2 Project.
The contract provides for the delivery of 36 aircraft by 2032.
The Brazilian aircraft fleet has been gradually falling in recent years, according to FAB data released in September last year. From 2014 to 2025, there was a reduction of 39.4%.
FAB’s budget for discretionary expenses – non-mandatory expenses intended for investments and administrative expenses – also fell during the period. According to the Brazilian Air Force, the budget for this purpose reduced by around 42% last year compared to 2014.
To change this scenario, Congress approved Complementary Law No. 221 of 2025, which guarantees the transfer over the next six years. THE CNN Brazilthe Ministry of Defense reported that the Air Force received R$840 million in 2026.
The resources arising from Complementary Law No. 221 of 2025 will be incorporated into the regular discretionary budget of the Ministry of Defense, especially to meet the commitments associated with strategic defense projects that are part of the New PAC Program portfolio.
Gripen
The FAB and the Swedish company Saab signed an agreement in 2014 to modernize the Brazilian aircraft fleet through the acquisition of Gripen jets. The contract provides for the delivery of 36 aircraft by 2032.
Until the end of the contract, Brazil will invest an average of 2.26 billion Swedish crowns (R$1.2 billion) per year in the acquisition of Saab fighters. To date, 28.27 billion Swedish kronor (R$15.3 billion) have been disbursed.
In addition to the 36 jets foreseen in the contract, the Brazilian government. The expansion of the aircraft fleet will occur through the expansion of the current agreement. Despite the announcement, the contract has not yet been signed.
“We are ready to start negotiations and hope to continue discussions on expanding the Brazilian Gripen fleet,” Saab said in a statement.
The Gripen F is Saab’s two-seater fighter model. In this version, there is space for a pilot and a co-pilot. For this reason, it is often used for training. Brazil is the company’s first customer to have this series in its fleet.
The Gripen E is single-seat, that is, it only carries the pilot and is usually intended for combat.
