Swedish defence manufacturer Saab successfully flew its two-seat Gripen F fighter aircraft for the first time on August 28, 2026. The aircraft took off from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden, at 09:40 local time and remained airborne for 40 minutes. This flight officially opened the airborne phase of a test campaign that must be completed before the fighter is handed over to the Brazilian Air Force.
The maiden flight was piloted by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg, alongside Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos. According to a release from Saab, the flight successfully verified the functionality of the fighter's core systems as well as its initial flight performance.
Following initial production acceptance flights, the test campaign will move into progressive flight envelope expansion. This process will clear the aircraft's limits for speed, altitude, G-load, and angle of attack step by step. Parallel evaluations will also assess tactical capabilities and the rear cockpit functions unique to the two-seat configuration. The campaign will be conducted by Saab’s Flight Test Centre in Linköping, Sweden, though the company has not yet set a timeline for completion or subsequent deliveries.
Brazil is the launch customer for the Gripen F and has actively participated in its co-development. A contract signed in 2014 covers 36 aircraft, comprising 28 single-seat Gripen E and eight two-seat Gripen F fighters. Saab noted that more than 350 Brazilian engineers, technicians, and pilots have received training related to the aircraft's development, production, flight testing, and maintenance.
The test flight follows the rollout of the first Gripen F in Linköping on June 2, 2026. Meanwhile, the first Brazilian-assembled single-seat Gripen E was rolled out at Embraer's plant in Gavião Peixoto on March 25, 2026. As of June 2026, eleven of the 28 ordered Gripen E aircraft had been delivered. Sweden indicated on June 4, 2026, that Brazil might order around 20 additional Gripen fighters, with Saab and Embraer having signed a heads of agreement on July 21, 2026, to position the Gavião Peixoto line as a complement to Linköping.
