8 July 2020: Saab’s first aerostructures plant outside of Sweden, Saab Aeronutica Montagens (SAM) for the new Gripen E/F fighter started production of building sections like tail-cone and front fuselage of single-seat version of Gripen fighter. Subsequently, the aerodynamic brakes, rear fuselage, wing box and front fuselage for the two-seater version will also be manufactured at SAM. These will be delivered to the final assembly facilities at the Embraer plant in Gavio Peixoto, So Paulo, Brazil and to Linkping, Sweden.
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.
“This 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 Saab in Linkping, we were able to establish a highly qualified production line at SAM, following the same standards that we have in our factory in Sweden,” said Jonas Hjelm, head of Saab’s business area Aeronautics.
Currently, SAM has more than 70 highly qualified employees, 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.
