Saab’s first aerostructures plant outside of Sweden for the new Gripen E\/F fighter, in S\u00e3o Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, reaches another important milestone with the start of production. This site builds sections of Gripen, which will then be delivered to the final assembly facilities at the Embraer plant in Gavi\u00e3o Peixoto, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil and to Saab in Link\u00f6ping, Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2014, Saab signed a contract with Brazilian government for the development and production of 36 Gripen E\/F aircraft. In September last year, the first Brazilian Gripen E aircraft was delivered to start the flight test programme. Now, another milestone is reached, as Gripen production starts at Saab\u2019s site in S\u00e3o Bernardo do Campo, in S\u00e3o Paulo in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tail cone and front fuselage of the single-seat version of the Gripen fighter are the first aerostructures to enter into production at Saab\u2019s site in S\u00e3o Paulo. Subsequently, the aerodynamic brakes, rear fuselage, wing box and front fuselage for the two-seater version will also be manufactured there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is another outcome of the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of the Gripen programme. Based on theoretical and practical on-the-job training of Brazilian engineers and assemblers at our Link\u00f6ping site, we were able to establish a highly qualified production line in our production site in S\u00e3o Bernardo do Campo, following the same standards that we have in our factory in Sweden,\u201d says Jonas Hjelm, head of Saab\u2019s business area Aeronautics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, Saab has more than 70 highly qualified employees present at the site in S\u00e3o Bernardo do Campo, half of whom are participating or have already participated in the ToT Programme in Sweden. Part of these employees have already completed the training and returned to initiate the production in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n