In a significant advancement for aerial operations, Saab and Embraer, in close cooperation with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), have concluded a successful certification flight test campaign for the in-flight refuelling of the F-39 E Gripen fighter by the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft. This milestone, designated Operation Samaúma by the FAB, was conducted at the Gripen Flight Test Centre at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility under the coordination of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA).
The comprehensive campaign brought together engineers and test pilots from Saab, Embraer, and the FAB to achieve two primary objectives. The first was to qualify the Gripen E as a receiver aircraft, a critical step in validating the fighter’s performance, stability, and structural integrity during refuelling operations. The second objective focused on verifying the full compatibility of both aircraft across the KC-390’s entire flight envelope, specifically for high-speed refuelling under both day and night conditions. Throughout the tests, a wide range of flight configurations, speeds, and altitudes were evaluated, confirming exceptional precision. The successful operation was significantly aided by both aircraft’s latest-generation fly-by-wire systems, with the KC-390 providing a favourable wake and the Gripen E demonstrating remarkable responsiveness.
This achievement underscores the high level of integration between the international teams and marks a pivotal technical milestone. Mikael Olsson, Head of Flight Testing at Saab, highlighted that it demonstrates a new level of operational reach for the Gripen E and reinforces the strategic partnership between Brazil and Sweden. Walter Pinto Júnior, Chief Operations Officer of Embraer Defense & Security, emphasized the KC-390’s unmatched qualities as a tanker and its unique multi-mission capability, which allows for rapid conversion into a refuelling aircraft, offering unbeatable flexibility to air forces worldwide. Colonel Aviator George Luiz Guedes de Oliveira celebrated the cooperation as a success that combines Swedish technology, Brazilian engineering, and the operational excellence of the FAB.
The verification data will now be submitted to the Swedish Military Aviation Authority (SE-MAA) for review as part of the Gripen E’s certification process, to be followed by analysis from the FAB’s Industrial Promotion and Coordination Institute (IFI). Operation Samaúma, involving approximately 40 professionals, places Brazil among an elite group of nations capable of developing, testing, and fully verifying in-flight refuelling systems with national technology, significantly enhancing the interoperability and joint capability of these two advanced aircraft.
