MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil unveils first supersonic fighter jet manufactured on its soil, a milestone for Latin America

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led the ceremony and christened the aircraft by spraying a champagne bottle over the fuselage

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer unveiled on Wednesday the first F-39E Gripen fighter jet manufactured in Brazil, a milestone the country's presidency called “unprecedented in Latin America.” It is the first of 15 supersonic combat aircraft Embraer will produce at its facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo state, under a total contract for 36 jets ordered from Swedish firm Saab.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led the ceremony and christened the aircraft by spraying a champagne bottle over the fuselage. “It is a highly symbolic moment, showing a country that believes in itself, invests in technology and reaffirms its sovereignty,” Lula wrote on social media.

Defense Minister José Múcio stated during the event that “this project consolidates our deterrence capability, increasing our capacity to guarantee national sovereignty and regional security.” Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, also in attendance, noted that “the defense industry is an insurance policy for national sovereignty, while standing at the forefront of industrial development.”

Brazil awarded the contract to Saab in 2014, choosing the Swedish Gripen over France's Dassault Rafale and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet. The decision was the subject of an extensive investigation over corruption allegations linked to the rejection of the Rafale. Lula, who was prosecuted in connection with the case after his first terms in office (2003-2010), was ultimately acquitted for lack of evidence in 2021. The first Gripen manufactured in Sweden was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force in September 2020, with foreign-built units incorporated progressively since then.

The fighter's unveiling comes amid growing defense concerns in the region. Brazil, which has historically positioned itself as a peaceful nation, has increasingly focused on military capabilities given the turbulent geopolitical landscape, marked by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela that led to the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January.

The Gripen program represents a strategic bet by Brazil on technology transfer and the development of its defense industry. Local manufacturing allows Embraer to access cutting-edge combat aircraft production technology, strengthening the country's industrial capabilities beyond commercial aviation, a sector in which the Brazilian company is already a global leader.