Sweden and Brazil have signed a letter of intent (LoI) under which Sweden indicated its interest in buying Embraer C-390 Millennium airlifters while Brazil stated that it plans to procure additional Saab Gripen E/F fighters.
The LoI was on 9 November 2024 by Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson and Brazilian Defence Minister José Múcio in Natal, Brazil, during a visit by Jonson to the CRUZEX 2024 air manoeuvres, in which the Gripen E has made its debut in an international air exercise.
“By signing the LoI the Swedish government is ready to task the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and the Swedish Armed Forces to begin negotiations with the aim to purchase C-390 aircraft,” the Swedish Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated on 9 November.
The number of C-390s to be procured was not mentioned, but the Swedish Air Force has an urgent need to replace the five C-130H Hercules (Tp84) transport aircraft and one KC-130H (Tp84T) tanker that it still operates out of an original fleet of eight C-130s delivered from the 1960s.
Brazil, meanwhile, signed a contract with Saab to purchase 36 Gripen E/Fs in 2014, of which eight have so far been delivered to Brazil, where joint production of the aircraft has been initiated.
“Brazil has now stated that it plans to increase the current contract for JAS 39 Gripen aircraft by 25%,” the Swedish MoD stated, which would amount to an additional nine aircraft.
Sweden is the sixth European nation to select the C-390, along with Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands and Portugal. As well as entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the C-390 has also been ordered by South Korea.
“Embraer is honoured with this selection by Sweden,” Bosco Da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, was quoted as saying in a 9 November company press release. “After several European NATO countries selected the C-390, this decision is a testimony that this multi-mission aircraft represents a tremendous operational capability upgrade compared to previous-generation tactical transport aircraft.”
On his X/Twitter account on 9 November Jonson stated, “The strategic partnership between Brazil and Sweden began 15 years ago and has evolved into a strong, deep and broad relationship. A hallmark of the partnership is our joint development of the world-leading fighter jet Gripen, which is built in Brazil as well as in Sweden. Our meeting today resulted in a commitment, a Letter of Intent, to deepen our co-operation in order to bring it to the next level. On both sides we stand ready to immediately task relevant authorities to initiate the necessary processes for the implementation of this LoI.”
