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The Brazilian Air Force recently confirmed that the delivery schedule for the F-39 Gripen fighter jets will be delayed again, with the last aircraft expected to arrive between 2030 and 2035. The justification, according to the Air Force, is the scarcity of financial resources, which directly impacts the payments of the installments of the financing necessary to acquire and maintain the program.
For military aviation experts and enthusiasts, this news is discouraging, since the Gripen fighters are seen as essential for the modernization of the Brazilian Air Force. The FAB stated that the new delay is a result of the “insufficient budget availability” that the project has faced in recent years, leading to a review of the delivery schedule. The institution stated that, since the beginning of the project, financial transfers have been below what is necessary, forcing the adoption of a schedule adjusted to the financial limitations.
The initial plan called for all 36 aircraft to be delivered by 2024, but the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis changed this scenario. In 2020, the program suffered its first delay, extending the final forecast to 2027. However, with only two aircraft delivered in 2024 and no more expected until the end of the year, it was clear that the previously established deadlines were far from being met.
The need for alternatives: Air Force considers used fighters
With the Gripen fighter project schedule compromised, the Air Force has been studying the acquisition of used aircraft to fill the operational gap left by the retirement of the A-1 and F-5 fighters, scheduled for before 2030.
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One model considered is the F-16 fighter, which could be purchased under similar conditions those of the Mirage 2000 fighters, purchased in 2006 as a palliative measure and with few hours of useful life. This decision, however, is still under analysis, as the Air Force carefully evaluates all alternatives according to operational needs and budget availability.
The current status of the program
To date, the Air Force has several F-39 Gripen models in Brazil, all of which are single-seat. Since 2020, the first unit of the Gripen fighters, received as a prototype for testing and evaluation, has remained on Brazilian soil, but it is expected that it will only join the active fleet once total deliveries are complete.
confirmation of new schedule and the direct impact of budgetary limits reinforce the need for the Brazilian government to establish continuous and adequate funding for the Air Force to achieve its defense goals. The process of modernizing the Brazilian Air Force, despite the difficulties, remains essential for national security and for the projection of Brazil's power in Latin America.
