STOCKHOLM/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Sweden has chosen Embraer’s C-390 Millennium freighter () as its next military transport aircraft, while Brazil plans to buy more Gripen fighter jets from Swedish company Saab, the country’s government said European.
The letter of intent signed on Saturday comes after long negotiations between the countries so that Brazil can increase its current Gripen orders and Sweden can use the Embraer plane as a replacement for the North American Lockheed Martin’s fleet of C-130 freighters.
Brazil signed a contract in 2010 with Saab to purchase 36 JAS 39 Gripen fighters. It now plans to increase the contract by 25%, the Swedish government said.
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In return, Sweden has selected Embraer’s C-390 Millennium as its new military cargo aircraft and will now begin the purchasing process.
“Sweden carried out a very in-depth analysis, evaluated several competitors and interacted with current C-390 operators and customers. We are very happy,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, defense director at Embraer, in an interview with Reuters.
The Nordic country did not immediately reveal how many C-390s it will buy or when a firm order will be placed. Costa said Sweden has some urgency and hopes to start receiving the aircraft “as soon as possible”.
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Sweden is the sixth European country to choose the Embraer aircraft, joining other NATO members such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands and Portugal, as well as Austria, which does not belong to NATO. Brazil and South Korea also purchased the C-390.
The letter of intent was signed by Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson and his Brazilian counterpart, José Mucio, in Natal, where Brazil organized a multinational operational training exercise.
Reuters reported in 2023 that Brazil was considering purchasing more Gripen fighters and that Mucio had traveled to Sweden to negotiate a deal that would also include the European nation’s purchase of the C-390.
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“Of course this is very good news for Saab and for Sweden. We know that Brazil is very happy with the JAS as its fighter. We now look forward to continuing discussions with Brazil on new orders,” said a Saab spokesperson, adding that no contracts have been signed.
Saab and Embraer have had a joint Gripens production line in Brazil since last year. Swedish Radio reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, that Colombia will purchase a fleet of JAS Gripen fighter jets.
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