By Roberto Caiafa
The Swedish company Saab delivered last May 5 two new fighters, the Gripen E FAB 4105 and FAB 4106, transported on the ship Mistiq from Sweden to the Port of Navegantes (Santa Catarina) to be transferred by land the following day.
Saab technicians, PortoNave administrative personnel, and a heavy security detail provided by the Air Force Infantry Troop marked the route, a short journey to Navegantes Airport.
The maneuvers were carried out under heavy security by Air Force infantry troops.
The fighters flew along the runway to the hangar, where they were checked and tested before flying to Gavião Peixoto, Embraer’s Defense and Security plant in the interior of the State of São Paulo.
Over the weekend, the pair of Gripen E fighters underwent routine technical procedures, received back their ejection seats and survival kit components, and prepared and checked all the systems needed to supply fuel and power to the aircraft on the ground.
Operation Navigators involves teams from the following:
- The Combat Aircraft Program Coordinating Commission (Copac),
- the Readiness Command (Comprep),
- the Air Force Logistics Transport Center (CTLA),
- the Air Force Intelligence Center (Ciaer),
- the Center for Aeronautical Accident Research and Prevention (Cenipa)
- and Saab, the company that develops the Gripen.
Saab and Embraer invited Infodefensa to cover the inauguration of the Gripen E fighter assembly line in Brazil, located in Gavião Peixoto.
With information from Infodefensa