Embraer KC-390 Completes Saab Gripen E Aerial Refuelling Certification Flights

EMBRAER and Saab in cooperation with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) successfully completed the certification flight test campaign for in-flight refuelling of Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen E fighter by Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft.

Conducted at Embraer’s Sao Paulo facilities where the Gripen Flight Test Centre is located, the campaign was coordinated by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) from the FAB, bringing together engineers and test pilots from Saab, Embraer and the FAB. During the tests, a range of flight configurations, speeds and altitudes were evaluated and confirmed precision during in-flight refuelling. Both aircraft’s latest-generation fly-by-wire systems contributed to the successful operation, with the KC-390 providing a favourable wake and the Gripen E demonstrating responsiveness in flight.

The flight test campaign consisted of two objectives, the first involved qualifying the Gripen E as a receiver for in-flight refuelling — a key step in validating the fighter’s performance, stability, and structural integrity throughout the operation. The second focused on verifying the compatibility of both aircraft across the KC-390’s entire flight envelope, for high-speed refuelling under both day and night conditions. The in-flight refuelling of Gripen E by the KC-390 further enhances interoperability between these two highly advanced, latest-generation aircraft

Embraer Defense & Security Chief Operations Officer Walter Pinto Junior said, “This important milestone confirms the KC-390 unmatched qualities as a tanker and further strengthens our partnership with Saab and the FAB. 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.”

Saab’s Head of Flight Testing Mikael Olsson added, “This achievement reflects the high level of integration between the teams involved. 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.”

“The verification of in-flight refuelling between the KC-390 and 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 FAB,” concluded Colonel Aviator George Luiz Guedes de Oliveira.

The Swedish Military Aviation Authority (SE-MAA) will now be able to review the verification evidence for the air-to-air refueling (AAR) capability of the Gripen E as part of its certification process. This will be followed by the certification process conducted by the Industrial Promotion and Coordination Institute (IFI) of the FAB. These institutions are responsible for the technical analysis and validation of results, ensuring that both aircraft comply with the most demanding international standards.

Dubbed Operation Samaúma by the FAB, this test campaign involved around 40 military personnel and places Brazil among the few countries capable of developing, testing and fully verifying in-flight refuelling systems using national technology.