Brazilian Air Force (FAB) flies first Air Defence Alert mission with the F-39E Gripen

First Brazilian Air Defence Alert mission with the F-39E Gripen

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has reached a fresh operational landmark after its modern F-39E Gripen fighters carried out their first Air Defence Alert mission. The deployment, launched from Anápolis Air Base (Brazil), marks another step in consolidating the weapons system now that it has achieved full operational capability. This milestone underlines the FAB’s deterrent strength and reflects the maturity of a strategic programme designed to reinforce national sovereignty and modernise Brazil’s combat aviation.

Round-the-clock alert duty coordinated by COMAE and 1º GDA “Jaguar”

The sortie was overseen by the Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE) and flown by the 1st Air Defence Group (1º GDA) “Jaguar”, the unit tasked with air defence operations and the protection of the federal capital. Commenting on the development, Lieutenant Colonel Aviator André Navarro de Lima Guimarães, commander of Anápolis Air Base, said: “The F-39 begins service in 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 the national airspace.”

The alert service runs 24 hours a day, all year, and follows an immediate-response protocol for any aircraft that fails to comply with air traffic rules. According to Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Gustavo de Oliveira Pascotto, the operations co-ordinator at Anápolis Air Base (BAAN), pilots remain fully kitted and continuously on standby, carrying out rapid system checks, establishing contact with control centres and preparing the aircraft to launch within minutes. Putting the F-39 on this critical duty confirms the system’s maturity and its full interoperability with the country’s air defence networks.

From Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2025 to Operation Thor in 2026

The Gripen E’s entry into air defence tasks followed a sequence of technical milestones completed throughout 2025 that certified its Full Operational Capability (FOC). Key achievements included integrating the air-to-air refuelling system with KC-390 Millennium aircraft, conducting the first launch of an MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, and completing the first live firing exercise with the 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon. Together, these events demonstrated the F-39E’s ability to sustain long-range missions, detect and neutralise threats beyond visual range (BVR), and operate in realistic combat scenarios. In early 2026, the Operation Thor campaign further broadened the operational envelope by validating both guided and free-fall bomb releases.

During Operation Thor, held at Natal Air Base, the experimental Gripen FAB 4100 successfully validated air-to-ground weapon release under the supervision of the Institute for Flight Research and Testing (IPEV). Coordinated with Saab, the campaign made Brazil the first operator worldwide to drop Mk-84 bombs and laser-guided Lizard 500 munitions from a Gripen. With real-time monitoring, the trials confirmed aircraft stability and accurate separation across different flight conditions. In addition, ground refuelling using the FARP (Forward Arming and Refuelling Point) procedure, and the certification of air-to-air refuelling with the KC-390 Millennium-completed as part of Operation Samaúma-confirmed full interoperability between the two platforms, extending the fighter’s endurance and strategic reach.

With the F-39 Gripen now fully integrated into the aerospace defence system, the Brazilian Air Force has moved to a higher level of operational capability and strategic deterrence. Delivered through Project F-X2, the programme not only обновира (modernises) national air defence but also drives wide-ranging transfers of technology and know-how into Brazilian industry. After successfully clearing every certification phase-from Meteor missile releases and cannon firing exercises to Operation Thor and both airborne and ground refuelling tests-the Gripen E is established as the central pillar of Brazil’s air power.

Image credits: Brazilian Air Force.