Saab of Sweden and Embraer of Brazil have formalized their partnership to supply Gripen NG fighters for Brazil's F-X2 air force project.

The agreement signed earlier this week follows a previous Memorandum of Understanding on management of the F-X2 project for the Brazilian Air Force and the transfer of Gripen technology.

Under the management agreement, Embraer will have a leading role in the overall program performance and perform an extensive share of work in the production and delivery of single- and two-seat versions of the Gripen NG to the air force.

Included will be work packages in systems development, integration, flight testing, final assembly and aircraft delivery, Saab said.

Embraer and Saab will be jointly responsible for the complete development of the two-seat version of the Gripen NG.

Later this year a team of Embraer engineers and technicians will be based in Sweden to conduct initial training in the maintenance and development work for the Gripen NG.

The two companies will also build an engineering center to support their Gripen NG activites.

"With this agreement, Embraer and Saab establish a long-term partnership on a strategic project for Brazil and for the Brazilian Air Force," says Jackson Schneider, president and chief executive officer of Embraer Defense & Security said. "The Gripen NG will increase the operational standard of our air force, enabling it with the appropriate means to fulfill its primary mission, which is the defense of our territory."

"Through this partnership we will secure an excellent result for the Brazilian Air Force and we will establish solid ground for success with future business opportunities and customers," added said Lennart Sindahl, deputy chief executive officer at Saab. "Not only do we share experience in the defense and aeronautical markets, but both organizations have a clear dedication to customer satisfaction that validates Gripen as the most capable and modern fighter system on the market." said Lennart Sindahl, deputy chief executive officer at Saab.

The Brazilian Air Force has chosen the Gripen for F-X2 project to modernize its fleet of aircraft. About three dozen of the aircraft, worth $5.6 billion, are to be provided under the deal, with the majority of them manufactured in Brazil, but it is expected that the Brazilian Air Force will place additional orders for 70 or more planes.

The Gripen is a single-engine multi-role fighter with a maximum speed of 1,370 miles per hour at altitude and a combat radius of 497 miles. The NG variant features engines more powerful than other variants, AESA radar and increased fuel capacity and payload capacity.

Saab said implementation of the partnership for joint program management remains subject to the F-X2 contracts between Saab and Brazil's Air Command becoming effective. That is expected to occur within the next few months.