Saab has completed the first flight of the Gripen F, the two-seat version of the Gripen E fighter developed with Brazilian industry, beginning a flight-test programme that will progressively clear the aircraft across its operating envelope, according to the company.
Saab announced the milestone on 28 August, saying the aircraft took off from its airfield at Linköping in Sweden at 09:40 local time and remained airborne for 40 minutes. The flight was conducted by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos, with the sortie used to verify the operation of the aircraft’s core systems and assess its initial flight performance.
Lars Tossman, head of Saab business area Aeronautics, said: “This first flight represents an important step forward for both Saab and the Brazilian Air Force. Seeing Gripen F take to the skies is particularly significant for all the Swedish and Brazilian teams whose years of engineering work have helped turn this aircraft into a reality. It is designed to accelerate pilot training while and enhancing operational performance in advanced combat missions.”
The first sortie moves Gripen F into the airborne phase of its test campaign. Saab said that, following initial production acceptance flights, testing will move into a progressive envelope expansion programme in which speed, altitude, G-load and angle of attack limits will be cleared in stages. Tactical capabilities and functions associated specifically with the rear cockpit of the two-seat aircraft will be assessed in parallel.
Gripen F was developed through cooperation between Sweden and Brazil under the Brazilian Gripen Programme, with Brazil acting as the launch customer for the two-seat variant. Saab said more than 350 Brazilian engineers, technicians and pilots have taken part in training connected with development, production, flight testing and maintenance of the aircraft, giving Brazilian industry and personnel a direct role in the programme.
The company said Brazil’s participation extended into co-development of the two-seat fighter rather than being limited to acquisition of completed aircraft. The Gripen F retains the two-seat configuration for training while Saab also intends the aircraft to support operational missions, with the rear cockpit and associated systems forming part of the dedicated test activity now beginning in Sweden.
The flight-test campaign will be conducted by Saab’s Flight Test Centre in Sweden. The aircraft will undergo further production acceptance activity before the programme moves through progressively more demanding flight conditions and evaluation of the systems associated with its two-seat configuration.
Once the planned flight-test work and acceptance procedures have been completed, Saab said the Gripen F will be prepared for delivery to the Brazilian Air Force. The 28 August flight therefore marks the beginning of the airborne test phase rather than completion of the aircraft’s development and acceptance programme.
