After traveling 21 days from Norrköping, Sweden, to Navegantes, Santa Catarina, the Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) 11th F-39 Gripen fighter, registration FAB 4111, was unloaded at Portonave. The aircraft arrived on board the Fortunagracht vessel, from the shipowner Spliethoff.
The fighter unloading operation took 1 hour, being the most efficient compared to the previous ones. Specific protocols were followed by the Portonave team from the reception and segregation of the fighter in a specific area of the dock, to the access control of people with reinforced protocols and the logistical integration and planning with the FAB and local transit and public safety agencies.
This was the eighth F-39 Gripen fighter unloading operation, demonstrating Portonave’s experience with special cargo. The first aircraft was unloaded by the Port Terminal in 2020, and the others arrived between 2022 and last June of this year.
After unloading, the fighter was transported to Navegantes International Airport by land, rolling on its own landing gear. The movement of just over two kilometers occurred during the early hours of November 14th. For safety reasons, the aircraft arrives from Sweden to Brazil without fuel. Only when it arrives at the airport is it refueled. At the airport, the final installation of equipment on the aircraft and pre-flight tests are also carried out.
The aircraft represents an important qualitative and technological leap for increasing the FAB’s operational capacity, as it is recognized for its efficiency, low operating cost, high availability, and advanced technology. The F-39 Gripen is manufactured by Saab, a leading Swedish company in the defense and security segment.
Brazilian Gripen Program
The fighter is part of the Brazilian Gripen Program, a partnership between Brazil and Sweden that began in 2015, following the contract signing with the FAB, with the objective of developing and producing state-of-the-art fighters. The contract also includes logistical support, related systems and equipment, training, armament, and an industrial cooperation agreement that became the largest technology transfer program ever carried out by Saab.
