Brazilian Air Force F-39E Gripen flies first Air Defence Alert mission

F-39E Gripen begins air defence alert duty

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has marked a new operational milestone with the first Air Defence Alert mission flown by its modern F-39E Gripen fighters. Conducted from Anápolis Air Base in Brazil, the deployment opens a new chapter in consolidating the weapons system after it achieved full operational capability. The achievement reinforces FAB’s deterrent power and demonstrates the maturity of a strategic programme created to strengthen national sovereignty and modernise Brazilian combat aviation.

The mission was coordinated by the Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE) and carried out by the 1st Air Defence Group (1st GDA) “Jaguar”, which is responsible for air defence operations and protecting the federal capital. Lieutenant Colonel Aviator André Navarro de Lima Guimarães, commander of Anápolis Air Base, stressed: “The F-39 begins service on the Brazilian aerospace defence alert. It is ready to take off within minutes if activated, ensuring our Force’s fundamental mission: defending the sovereignty of national airspace.”

The alert service operates 24 hours a day throughout the year and follows an immediate-response protocol for any aircraft that breaches air traffic rules. According to Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Gustavo de Oliveira Pascotto, BAAN operations coordinator, pilots remain equipped and permanently available, carrying out rapid system checks, contacting control centres and readying the aircraft for take-off within minutes. Bringing the F-39 into this critical role confirms the system’s maturity and its full interoperability with the country’s air defence networks.

Full operational capability and weapons integration

The Gripen E entered air defence missions after a series of technical milestones achieved throughout 2025, which certified its Full Operational Capability (FOC). These included integrating the air-to-air refuelling system with KC-390 Millennium aircraft, the first launch of an MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, and the first live-firing exercise with the 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon. Taken together, the trials proved the F-39E’s ability to sustain long-range missions, detect and neutralise threats beyond visual range (BVR), and operate in real combat scenarios. At the beginning of 2026, the Operation Thor campaign further broadened its operational scope by validating the release of guided and free-fall bombs.

Operation Thor validates air-to-ground weapons

During Operation Thor at Natal Air Base, the experimental FAB 4100 Gripen successfully validated the release of air-to-ground weapons under the supervision of the Flight Research and Test Institute (IPEV). Coordinated with Saab, the campaign made Brazil the first operator worldwide to release Mk-84 and laser-guided Lizard 500 bombs from a Gripen. Monitored in real time, the tests confirmed aircraft stability and release accuracy under different flight conditions. In addition, ground refuelling through the FARP (Forward Arming and Refuelling Point) procedure, together with the KC-390 Millennium air-to-air refuelling certification completed during Operation Samaúma, confirmed total interoperability between the two platforms, extending the fighter’s endurance and strategic reach.

With the F-39 Gripen fully incorporated into the aerospace defence system, the Brazilian Air Force has attained a new level of operational capability and strategic deterrence. Developed under Project F-X2, the programme not only modernises national air defence but also drives extensive technology and knowledge transfer to Brazilian industry. Having successfully completed every certification stage-from Meteor missile launches and cannon-firing exercises to Operation Thor and aerial and ground refuelling trials-the Gripen E is established as the central pillar of Brazil’s air power.

Image credits: Brazilian Air Force.-