The second batch of F-39 Gripen fighters for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) should consist of 26 aircraft, said the institution's commander, Lieutenant-Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Jr., during an event at the Air Force Command, in the morning this Monday (23) in Brasilia.
During Breakfast with the Commander, journalists were able to talk personally with the FAB Commander, who presented the progress of several projects.
Speaking about the Gripen, the Air Force's new multi-mission fighter plane, the Brigadeiro also revealed that the two-seat aircraft (two-seater) will no longer be manufactured in Brazil, but in Sweden.
baptist jr. explained that Embraer participated in the development of the two-seat F-39F, but the local production of the F-39E version, with only one seat, allows more units to be manufactured locally, in addition to the greater participation of other companies and the increase in the number of men -hour to produce the plane in the country.
Regarding the second lot, whose acquisition studies were announced by the Commander during the Fighter Aviation Day event, the general officer revealed that it should comprise 26 aircraft, bringing the number of aircraft acquired to 66 (already counting the four additional aircraft to the first batch).
The number is projected based on Planning Based on Capabilities (PBC), a study that defines the existing capabilities within the FAB and those that the institution aims to achieve.
The Brigadier also pointed out that 36 aircraft is a very large number for just one air base, but not enough for two. Thus, the acquisition of four more aircraft, forming an initial batch of 40 fighters, allows the deployment of Gripens in two air bases.
The new location will still be defined by the Air Force Command through studies that are in their initial phase.
In a slide presented during the event, the current fighter delivery schedule was revealed: six planes in 2022, three planes in 2023, 2 in 2024 and 2025, 10 in 2026 and 11 in 2027.
The original planning dictated that the 36 contracted aircraft would be delivered by 2024. In addition, the FAB is demanding an increase in the number of aircraft manufactured in Brazil, something that is being negotiated between Embraer and Saab.
Closure of STOUT and UCAV projects and KC-390 schedule
In recent years, FAB and Embraer announced memorandums of understanding (MoU) for two aircraft design studies: the STOUT, a hybrid freighter to replace the C-95 Bandeirante and C-97 Brasília, and an unmanned combat aircraft ( UCAV).
baptist jr. revealed that Embraer has already been informed that, within 60 days, the two memorandums of understanding will be “denounced”, that is, cancelled. “We came to the conclusion that they will not be on our priorities so soon and we don't want to give false hope that we have resources to invest in the development of these projects”, explained the Brigadier, pointing out that the studies are being closed by the FAB.
Later, the Commander also said that the FAB is not completely giving up on combat drones, just that the institution's priority at this moment is the second batch of Gripens, and that there are not enough resources to help Embraer in the UCAV studies.
He pointed out that the end of the studies is also unrelated to the recent contractual amendment of the KC-390 Millennnium tactical freighter, even stating that Embraer is using a FAB aircraft to present and promote the Brazilian KC-390 in the Middle East .
According to information obtained by the Aeroflap Portal, it is a Fat Squadron's KC-390, the newest FAB unit to be equipped with this jet. A new schedule for deliveries of the KC-390 was also presented, check the image below.
Arrival of the first A330 and launch of satellites by SpaceX
One of the highlights of this morning's conversation was the two Airbus A330s, recently acquired by the FAB. baptist jr. informed first hand that the first aircraft should arrive in Brazil already painted with the colors of the FAB on the July 26, at Galeão Air Force Base.
the aircraft left last week for Jordan, where the review will be carried out before delivery to the Air Force. At the same time, a FAB team is in Spain to negotiate the conversion of the aircraft to the standard MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport).
FAB pilots, mechanics and flight attendants are already undergoing training to work on the aircraft. Designated KC-30, the new planes will be operated by the Corsair Squadron (2nd/1st GT).
Commander Baptista Jr. he also talked a lot about satellites and revealed that SpaceX, billionaire Elon Musk's company, was contracted to launch two satellites acquired by the FAB for remote sensing.
However, this fact has nothing to do with Musk's recent visit to Brazil, where he spoke with the FAB Commander on the use of the Alcântara Launch Center and was even decorated.
The contract was signed in 2019 with the satellite manufacturer, the Finnish company IceEye, under the Lessonia Project. Small satellites use SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology to obtain images with a resolution of up to two meters.
According to the Commander, the images currently used by the Air Force Command have a resolution of 40 meters. He highlighted that this “will bring positive impact” in the fight against crimes such as illegal mining in the Amazon, for example.
The new satellites of the Lessonia program will be operated by the FAB Space Operations Center (COPE), headquartered in Brasília and recently visited by the commander. baptist jr. said that the launch should be carried out by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida, but did not reveal the date of the operation.
Training in Italy
One of the topics discussed by the Lieutenant-Brigadier was his recent visit to Italy, where the M346 advanced training jet flew Master. The officer said that it was not his first time flying the aircraft and that this time he was getting to know the new concept of training fighter pilots that is being carried out in that country.
He was invited by the Commander of the Italian Air Force to meet the Leonardo International Flight Training School, which is based on the M346 itself. Baptista Jr reported that he flew a 2×2 combat flight and even joked that Coronel Frederica, a Eurofighter pilot he flew with, “liked to pull G”, that is, performing high-intensity maneuvers.
The official's flight in Italy raised questions and speculation regarding the purchase of the aircraft to train Brazilian pilots. “We do have to decide whether the Super Tucano is suitable for transitioning to Gripen. This is the answer we are trying to solve.”, said the Commander saying that currently the FAB cannot buy the Italian model.
However, he revealed that the Air Force Command should send a fighter pilot instructor and an aviator to take the 10-month course in Italy. The costs are still being studied, as well as the possibility of sending more Brazilian pilots for training in Italy in the future.
