Brazil validates air-to-air refueling between Embraer KC-390 and SAAB Gripen E

Embraer and Saab, in cooperation with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), successfully completed the flight test campaign for certifying the air-to-air refueling (AAR) of the Gripen E fighter by the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft.

This certification, conducted at Embraer’s facilities in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, where the Gripen Flight Test Centre is located, strengthens the technological and operational integration between these two strategic assets of the FAB. AAR is fundamental to expanding the operational capabilities of both aircraft in the international market, as stated in the joint release.

The test campaign was coordinated by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) of the FAB and involved engineers and test pilots from Saab, Embraer, and the FAB itself. The team evaluated a wide range of flight configurations, speeds, and altitudes to confirm precision during the AAR operation.

The success of the tests is attributed to the latest-generation fly-by-wire systems of both aircraft. According to participants, the KC-390 provided a favorable wake, while the Gripen demonstrated excellent responsiveness during the in-flight maneuver.

The test campaign had two primary objectives:

1. Qualification of the Gripen E as a receiver: Validating the fighter's performance, stability, and structural integrity throughout the refueling operation.
2. Compatibility verification: Confirming the compatibility between both aircraft across the KC-390's entire flight envelope, enabling high-speed refueling under both day and night conditions.

Interoperability and strategic flexibility

The air-to-air refueling of the Gripen E by the KC-390 significantly increases interoperability between these two advanced platforms.

Walter Pinto Júnior, Chief Operations Officer of Embraer Defense & Security, highlighted the KC-390's qualities as a tanker aircraft and its multi-mission capability. "This important milestone confirms the KC-390 unmatched qualities as a tanker and further strengthens our partnership with Saab and the Brazilian Air Force. Additionally, the unique multi-mission capability offered by the KC-390, which allows the airplane to be converted into a tanker in a matter of hours, offers unbeatable flexibility to Air Forces worldwide," he noted.

For his part, Mikael Olsson, Head of Flight Testing at Saab, emphasized the strategic value of the achievement. "The verification of in-flight refuelling is a very significant technical milestone for our business, as it demonstrates that Gripen E has reached a new level of operational reach. The success of this campaign further reinforces the strategic partnership between Brazil and Sweden and Brazil’s role within the global Gripen programme ecosystem," he added.

Colonel Aviator George Luiz Guedes de Oliveira of the FAB concluded that the verification of AAR between the KC-390 and the F-39 Gripen "represents the success of a cooperation that goes beyond borders. It is the result of a joint effort combining Swedish technology, Brazilian engineering and the operational excellence of the Brazilian Air Force."

Next steps for certification

The verification evidence for the air-to-air refueling capability of the Gripen E will now be reviewed by the Swedish Military Aviation Authority (SE-MAA) as part of its certification process. Following this, the Industrial Promotion and Coordination Institute (IFI) of the FAB will conduct its own certification process. These institutions are responsible for analyzing and validating the technical results to ensure that both aircraft comply with the most stringent international standards.

The test campaign was named Operation Samaúma by the FAB and involved around 40 military personnel. With this development, Brazil positions itself among the few countries capable of developing, testing, and fully verifying air-to-air refueling systems using national technology.