Sweden's Minister of Defense Pål Jonson received the 16th of September Brazil's Air Force Chief, Lieutenant General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, in Stockholm. The agenda included the strategic cooperation between the countries, particularly in the aviation sector, where the Swedish-Brazilian Gripen program is a central component.
During the meeting, a joint declaration was signed confirming the ambition to further deepen the cooperation. The declaration highlights, among other things, the possibility for Brazil to order additional JAS 39 Gripen aircraft and thereby amend the current contract for the FX-2 project. Such a step would, according to the text, occur within the framework of Brazilian legislation.
Brazil has so far received ten Gripen F-39 aircraft, which are already in operational service at the airbase in Anápolis. Meanwhile, local production of the Gripen is ongoing at Embraer's facility in Gavião Peixoto, where the first entirely Brazil-built aircraft is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
– The strategic cooperation between Sweden and Brazil is important for both our countries, not least through Sweden's purchase of transport aircraft and the manufacturing of Gripen aircraft on site in Brazil, says Minister of Defense Pål Jonson.
In addition to the Gripen program, Sweden's planned purchase of four C-390 Millennium transport aircraft from Embraer, which will replace the Armed Forces' current transport aircraft, was also noted.
During the visit, the importance of technological exchange and the long-term cooperation in aviation technology was also emphasized. The declaration also marked the entry into force of the protocol on export control of defense products between Sweden and Brazil.
In connection with the visit, the Brazilian delegation also participated in meetings organized by the Security and Defense Companies Association (SOFF), where Swedish companies presented their solutions and collaborations in innovation and production.