Brazilian Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro said on June 2 that the government and Saab are discussing the possible creation of a research and development center linked to the Gripen fighter program in Brazil.
The comments were made in Linköping, Sweden, following the rollout ceremony of the first two-seat Gripen F fighter built for the Brazilian Air Force.
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June 02, 2026
“We are trying to bring a Saab technology center to Brazil,” Múcio told reporters. According to the minister, the facility would be located in São José dos Campos, a city in southeastern Brazil that serves as the country's main aerospace hub and is home to Embraer.
After Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson acknowledged the discussions during a press conference, the company issued a statement confirming that talks are underway. Saab said discussions with the Brazilian Air Force will be conducted through the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA), the organization responsible for the Brazilian Air Force's science, technology and innovation activities.
Natural candidate
The proposed center would be connected to the cooperation established under Brazil's Gripen acquisition program. The original contract covers 36 fighters, including 28 single-seat Gripen E aircraft and eight two-seat Gripen F variants.
Part of the program is already carried out in Brazil, where Embraer assembles Gripen aircraft at its facility in Gavião Peixoto, one of the company's main flight-test and production centers. The first Gripen E assembled in the country was delivered in March.
São José dos Campos is considered a natural candidate for the project because it is home to Embraer's headquarters, the DCTA and several aerospace companies, research institutions and defense organizations, making it the center of Brazil's aerospace industry.
The Gripen F unveiled on Tuesday was built in Linköping. The two-seat variant was developed at Brazil's request and is expected to be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force in the coming months.
Brazil has also been mentioned as a possible participant in future Gripen export programs involving countries such as Colombia and Ukraine. However, no role has been formally assigned to Brazilian facilities in any potential international orders.
