Portuguese 
The Gripen F-39 with tail number 4107 was unloaded at night at the Port of Navegantes after arriving from Sweden on a merchant ship, and the following morning was towed about 3 km to the airport, escorted by the Air Force, with the avenue blocked and entry through a specific gate for this military logistics.
A new Gripen F-39, identified by tail number 4107, traversed the streets of Navegantes in Santa Catarina after arriving from Sweden aboard a merchant ship. The aircraft was unloaded at the Portonave area overnight and traveled overland, during a live-streamed operation, to the city’s airport.
The movement was recorded in a broadcast published on December 12, 2023, by the channel Leandro LS on YouTube. The video follows the Gripen F-39 from its departure from the Portonave area, showing traffic being blocked and the Air Force escort during the approximately 3 km journey to the specific access point of Navegantes airport.
Gripen F-39 Arrived from Sweden Aboard a Merchant Ship
Before making its appearance on the streets of Santa Catarina, the Gripen F-39 had completed the international leg of its journey by sea. According to information presented during the broadcast, the merchant ship had left Sweden the previous month and docked in Navegantes the day before the overland movement began.
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The unloading took place overnight, between nightfall and dawn. Only one aircraft, with tail number 4107, was mentioned repeatedly during the broadcast due to the anticipation among some viewers that more than one fighter aircraft might arrive at that time.
Aircraft was New and Not Part of a Used Batch
One of the highlights during the coverage was that the newly arrived aircraft was not used. The narrator described the fighters transported from Sweden as brand-new units.
This made the scene even more unusual for those watching the movement in the streets. Instead of an old piece of equipment being transported for display or maintenance, it was a newly arrived Gripen F-39 intended to integrate into the Air Force operations.
Port and Airport Are Only a Few Kilometers Apart
The choice of Navegantes facilitates this type of operation because the port and airport are close to each other. During the broadcast, the distance was estimated at about 3 km to 3.5 km.
In addition to the proximity, the route is relatively straightforward. The explanation provided during the coverage highlighted that there is practically an avenue connecting the port area to the airport, reducing the complexity of transporting such a large aircraft overland.
The aircraft left Portonave towed by a support vehicle
The Gripen F-39 did not travel the streets using its own engines. The aircraft was moved with the help of a tow vehicle similar to the pushbacks used at airports to maneuver planes on the ground.
The tow vehicle led the way while the jet advanced at low speed. The operation needed to consider the aircraft’s width, utility poles, walls, turns, and available space on the avenue, requiring careful attention, especially in the narrower sections.
Traffic was halted to clear the way for the jet
At one point during the broadcast, traffic on the avenue was completely stopped. The goal was to create enough space for the jet to proceed without civilian vehicles occupying the same road.
Later, it was reported that buses were also positioned to block the avenue, keeping the route clear for the aircraft’s passage. The temporary closure emphasized the scale of the logistics required to move the Gripen between the port and the airport.
The Air Force provided escort during the transport
The security of the route was the responsibility of teams affiliated with the Air Force. The broadcast made it a point to differentiate the escort group from the Army.
According to the coverage, members of the Aviation Police and Air Force personnel were present, along with professionals associated with Saab who monitored the aircraft operation.
Residents gathered on the streets to watch the Gripen
Even though it occurred at an unconventional time and during a weekday, the transport attracted onlookers at various points along the route.
In the area around a roundabout, the broadcast reported a substantial gathering of people. The sight of a fighter jet crossing an urban avenue drew attention precisely because it was an unusual occurrence for the city’s normal routine, despite not being the first similar operation in Navegantes.
Narrow street required caution at one of the turns
As the aircraft approached the airport, the route became more delicate. A segment of the broadcast highlighted that the street used for the turn was narrow.
The team needed to guide people near the route and manage the available space around poles and walls. The size of the Gripen F-39 turned a simple urban curve into a logistical maneuver, executed at a very low speed.
Gate at the back of the airport was created to receive the Gripen
The entrance used by the fighter jet was not the main access to Navegantes Airport. According to the commentary during the broadcast, there is a gate located at the back of the airport specifically designed for this logistical operation.
This access is near a cemetery and allows aircraft transported from the port to enter directly into the airport area. After crossing this gate, the fighter can continue to be towed internally to the area where it will be prepared.
Structure prevents bringing the aircraft through the main entrance
The presence of this specific access reduces the need to drive a large fighter jet to the conventional terminal entrance.
This solution also demonstrates how the local infrastructure has been adapted for the arrival of the Gripen by sea. The port receives the aircraft, the avenue serves as a temporary land corridor, and the back gate completes the connection to the airport’s operational area.
Gripen proceeds on land before returning to the skies
The fact that a fighter jet arrives in Brazil inside a ship might seem contradictory at first glance, but maritime transport is part of the logistics of these deliveries.
After being unloaded, the Gripen F-39 needs to undergo ground movement and procedures at the airport before its next airborne stage. The broadcast indicated Anápolis as the aircraft’s next destination after the necessary work in Navegantes.
Saab teams also monitored the operation
In addition to military personnel, members associated with the manufacturer Saab were noted during the movement through the streets.
The presence of these teams is related to the technical monitoring of the aircraft after the long sea journey and during its preparation on the ground. The broadcast also showed professionals capturing the arrival with photographs and videos.
Navegantes combines an uncommon logistics model in the country
The combination of a port and an airport in close proximity creates a unique situation. A military aircraft can be taken from a ship and, just a few kilometers later, enter an airport facility.
In the case of the 4107, this connection turned an avenue in Navegantes into a temporary corridor for a combat jet, with traffic blocked, military escort, and residents observing the passage.
Gripen F-39 traveled about 3 km until it disappeared through the airport gate
The route ended when the Gripen F-39 reached the back access of the airport and was handed over to the airport area. The movement from Portonave covered a few kilometers, but required the closure of the avenue, a towing vehicle, crowd control, and escort from the Air Force.
This scene encapsulates a logistical challenge that is hard to miss: a new jet from Sweden disembarks from a ship and, hours later, occupies the streets of a city in Santa Catarina before entering through a gate specially constructed for this type of operation. Would you stop to watch a Gripen passing down your street? Share in the comments.
