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In Light of The Tightest Budget Constraints in Decades, Brazilian Air Force Considers Acquiring Up to 12 Used Gripen C/D Fighters and Considers F-16s from the U.S. to Avoid Military Blackout and Maintain Minimum Surveillance Capacity Until 2032
Brazil is going through one of the worst budget crises in its recent military history. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) faces a scenario of serious financial limitations, which compromises the modernization and renewal of the combat fleet. To avoid a true “blackout” in national air defense, the alternative that has emerged is the emergency purchase of used Gripen fighters, in C and D versions, directly from Sweden.
The proposal under consideration provides for the acquisition of up to 12 aircraft, which would serve as a complement to the Gripen E/F fleet already acquired in the original contract. The measure seeks to address the shortfall caused by the constant delays in the main program and by successive cuts to the budget allocated to the Air Force.
Financial Impact on FAB’s Gripen Program
The acquisition program for the Gripen NG (E/F) has faced successive financial add-ons, which have raised the total cost of the original contract by approximately 13%. According to estimates released by the Air Force command itself, the additional investment would be sufficient to purchase six more aircraft beyond the 36 initially planned.
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However, faced with the difficulty of expanding the budget, the FAB is seeking alternative solutions. If negotiations with Sweden do not progress or the aircraft are not available in a timely manner, a “Plan B” option would be the purchase of used F-16 fighters from the U.S. Air Force’s stock. This possibility, although less likely, is under study to prevent the country from further losing its minimum defense and airspace surveillance capability.
Delayed Deliveries Compromise Planning
The initial schedule anticipated that the last Gripen aircraft would be delivered by 2024, but successive budget cuts have pushed this deadline to 2032. The practical impact is already visible: according to the new planning, only one unit is expected to be received in 2026, a number considered alarming for those monitoring Brazil’s strategic needs advancements.
As explained by a report from the channel Águias de Aço, the delays are not due to the Swedish manufacturer Saab’s production capacity, but rather to how the contract was structured, with annual financial releases dependent on the government. The problem is that, in recent years, the released amounts have remained far below what is necessary, hindering the delivery schedule and compromising the strengthening of the fleet.
FAB Seeks to Maintain Minimum Readiness with Reduced Fleet
The crisis is even more serious when considering the number of active aircraft. The Brazilian Air Force has already confirmed that the A-1 AMX jets will be retired by 2025, ending a decades-long service record. At the same time, the F-5M Tiger II fighters, which should have been retired years ago, have had their lifespan extended to the limit precisely to compensate for the delays in the arrival of the new Gripens.
This emergency solution underscores the urgency for new acquisitions. By considering used fighters, the FAB is repeating a move made in the past when Brazil integrated the Mirage 2000 in 2006. At that time, these second-hand aircraft provided temporary relief until their deactivation in 2013. However, the current situation is even more concerning, as there are fewer jets available and the modernization schedule is further away than ever.
Attempt to Expand the Fleet to Around 50 Fighters
The idea under discussion is to increase the total number of FAB fighters to around 50 units, combining used aircraft with the new Gripen E/F. This hybrid solution is seen as the only way to balance the immediate operational necessity with the financial limitations imposed by the Defense budget.
In practice, Brazil is trying to avoid an air capability vacuum in an increasingly unstable international scenario, where airspace surveillance and rapid response capability are strategic not only for national sovereignty but also for the security of the entire South American continent.
An Uncertain Future for National Air Defense
The situation of the Brazilian Air Force clearly exposes the historical difficulty of the country in maintaining a long-term defense program with a stable budget. The dependence on annual releases and recurrent delays jeopardizes not only planning but also immediate airspace security.
In light of this scenario, the purchase of used Gripen fighters from Sweden or second-hand U.S. F-16s emerges as the only viable solution in the short term. However, experts warn that such measures do not address the structural issue: Brazil needs to decide whether it is willing to invest consistently in the modernization of its air defense, or if it will continue to rely on stopgap solutions that jeopardize the country’s sovereignty.
As highlighted by the channel Águias de Aço, Brazil is currently experiencing a situation even worse than during the Mirage 2000 era, with even fewer combat aircraft available and an uncertain horizon until 2032.
Colocaram a FAB numa fria. Os caças suecos escolhidos, não servem para a magnitude do território brasileiro. Aposta errada! Melhor fazer como Argentina, comprar F-16 usados e de pronta entrega.