Saab and Embraer, together with the Brazilian Air Force, have completed a series of certification test flights in which the F-39 Gripen E conducted aerial refueling from a KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft. The conclusion of this program marks another step in integrating two key aircraft that are already shaping the core of Brazil’s modern air capabilities.
The tests took place at Embraer’s facility in Gavião Peixoto, home to the Gripen Flight Test Center. The campaign, designated “Operation Samaúma,” was conducted under the supervision of the Brazilian Air Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology. Around forty engineers and pilots from Embraer, Saab, and the Brazilian Air Force contributed to the certification effort.
Read also: Saab JAS 39 Gripen as an Option for the Ukrainian Air Force: Understanding This Aircraft
The program evaluated a wide range of speeds, altitudes, and aircraft load configurations. Both platforms use fly-by-wire control systems, which contributed to the Gripen E maintaining stable formation flight, while the KC-390 provided a consistent and predictable airflow environment for safe fuel transfer.
The campaign had two main objectives. First, it aimed to confirm that the Gripen E can safely receive fuel using the “hose-and-drogue” system employed on the KC-390. In parallel, the team evaluated the full operational refueling envelope of the Millennium, including high-speed modes, and tested system performance in both daytime and nighttime scenarios.
According to Walter Pinto Júnior, CEO of Embraer Defense and Security, the results once again demonstrated the KC-390’s effectiveness as a tanker and highlighted its flexibility – the aircraft can be converted from a transport platform into a refueling configuration in just a few hours. Mikael Olsson, Saab’s head of flight testing, noted that the Gripen E gains a significant expansion of operational range and flexibility through these refueling capabilities.
The Swedish Air Force Materiel Administration will now analyze the full dataset as part of the Gripen E certification process. In parallel, the Brazilian Institute for Industrial Promotion and Coordination, operating under the DCTA, will carry out its own airworthiness assessment.
Earlier this year, the Brazilian Air Force also approved the operational arming and refueling concept after testing ground-based interaction between the KC-390 and the Gripen E. This decision supports the concept of dispersed operations conducted from remote locations.
The new successful certification further strengthens the strategic partnership between Embraer and Saab. Brazil assembles part of the Gripen E and F fleet at its own facilities, and Sweden has already announced its intention to acquire the KC-390 to modernize its transport fleet. Brazil is also considering increasing its Gripen order. Full compatibility between the fighter and the tanker opens additional opportunities for both manufacturers on international markets.
Read also:
- Sweden May Partially Finance Gripen Fighter Deal for Ukraine
- Ukraine and Sweden Sign Memorandum of Intent to Acquire Up to 150 Gripen Fighter Jets
Source: Аerotime.aero
