Charlotte Bailey joined AIN’s editorial team in 2025 as a news reporter covering multiple topics including business aviation, new technology and the defense sector. She is also a frequent presenter in AIN’s video news reports. 
UK-based Charlotte has a strong interest in vintage military jets and in 2023 published a book about the de Havilland Vampire, as well as serving as a consultant on the topic for TV and movie projects. She is keen to expand her flying experience and enjoys hands-on assignments worldwide. In 2024, Charlotte was honored as Best New Journalist in the Aerospace Media Awards. Early in her career, Charlotte was involved in manufacturing customized hot air balloons.

News Reporter 

Charlotte Bailey

Brazil is celebrating the rollout of Latin America’s first domestically-produced supersonic fighter, the Saab Gripen E, from Embraer’s industrial site in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo. It marks the first of 15 single-seat jets to be assembled under a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
The aircraft was built using components from a Brazilian and international supply chain, including aerostructure elements from Saab’s facility in São Bernardo do Campo. The final assembly line—inaugurated in May 2023—complements the adjacent Gripen Design and Development Network and the Gripen Flight Test Center.
Brazil selected the Gripen in late 2013, signing a contract the following year for 36 aircraft. This included 28 single-seat Gripen E and eight two-seat Gripen F units. Since 2020, eleven F-39Es have already been delivered from Saab’s main factory in Linköping, Sweden, and the fighter has been operating in Quick Reaction Alert missions from Brazil’s Anapolis Air Force Base since February.
According to the FAB, the technology transfer plan outlined in the initial contract is one of the largest ever carried out by Brazil, representing “the consolidation of industrial competencies that go beyond military use and boost national technological development.”
“Saab remains fully committed to expanding and deepening our presence in Brazil, strengthening the country industrially and technologically, and as an export hub to the world,” commented Saab president and CEO Micael Johansson.
Future export potential from the Brazilian factory could include November 2025’s agreement from neighboring Colombia, which placed an order for 15 Gripen E and two Gripen Fs. It has not yet been confirmed whether these will be produced in Brazil, Sweden, or both. Peru is also considering its future fighter orders.
As stated in the initial contract, “Brazilian industry will have an important role in the development of, and be responsible for, the production of the two-seat Gripen,” explained Saab. This was subsequently amended, with Saab’s factory in Linköping, Sweden, now responsible for the F variants. In May 2023, general production manager Mattias Olsson clarified that it “didn’t make sense” to optimize an in-country line for such comparatively small volumes. Brazil’s first F-39F is set to roll off the Linköping line later this year.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

First Supersonic Saab Gripen F-39E Fighter Built in Brazil Unveiled

Inaugural Gripen F-39E to be followed by 14 more domestically assembled aircraft 

Brazil celebrates the rollout of Latin America’s first domestically produced supersonic fighter, the Saab Gripen E, from Embraer’s industrial site in São Paulo.

First Supersonic Fighter Built in Brazil Unveiled

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Museum is offering limited evening tours of The Mouse 

Air Museum To Allow Tours Inside Restored Disney Plane

Kerry Lynch

Results vary by aircraft model and category

AircraftPost: Bizjet Market Tightens with Fewer Sales

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence will host the fifth annual event

AAM Innovators Converge on Ohio for Industry Forum

Amy Wilder

New 112,000-sq-ft building will house production support functions

PPG Aero Investing $70 Million in Huntsville Expansion

Howard Hardee

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

‘Wing of Tomorrow’ saves fuel but won’t fit at today’s narrowbody gates

Folding Wingtips Present Challenge for Next Narrowbodies

Aircraft serial number two made its first takeoff from Mérignac in France on September 24

Dassault Confirms Two Falcon 10X Prototypes Now Flying

Hanneke Weitering

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

In this article

Saab Gripen E

Saab Aerospace

Embraer Defense

More In Aircraft

Air Museum To Allow Tours Inside Restored Disney Plane

Museum is offering limited evening tours of The Mouse

AircraftPost: Bizjet Market Tightens with Fewer Sales

Results vary by aircraft model and category

AAM Innovators Converge on Ohio for Industry Forum

The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence will host the fifth annual event

PPG Aero Investing $70 Million in Huntsville Expansion

New 112,000-sq-ft building will house production support functions

Folding Wingtips Present Challenge for Next Narrowbodies

‘Wing of Tomorrow’ saves fuel but won’t fit at today’s narrowbody gates

Dassault Confirms Two Falcon 10X Prototypes Now Flying

Aircraft serial number two made its first takeoff from Mérignac in France on September 24

Inside Heart’s Hybrid-electric Airliner Redesign

CEO Anders Forslund explains why Heart returned to a series-hybrid design

IADA: Strong Demand in Tight Preowned Bizjet Market

Long OEM backlogs are one of the factors spurring the crunch

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN