Brazil defines initial Gripen weapon systems procurement

The Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira: FAB) has defined the types and initial quantities of weapons and pods to arm its fleet of Saab Gripen NG (Gripen E/F) fighters, according to reports earlier this month.

The first of 36 Gripen NG multirole fighters procured through the F-X2 programme is expected to be delivered to the FAB from 2019. The Gripens will be initially locally assembled but later mostly locally sourced by Embraer through a USD4.6 billion deal between the Ministry of Defence and the Swedish Export Credit Corporation that was approved by the Brazilian Senate on 5 August.

The proposed weapon systems includes fifth-generation A-Darter short-range air-to-air missiles still in development by South Africa's Denel along with Avibras and Mectron; the Diehl BGT Defence Infra-Red Imaging System-Tail (IRIS-T) short-range air-to-air missiles; Rafael Smart, Precise Impact, Cost Effective (SPICE)-250 and -1000 EO/GPS-guided glide bomb kits; and Rafael RecceLite 2 tactical recon pods and Litening G4 airborne day/night navigation and targeting pod.