Brazilian Air Force and Saab Test F-39 Gripen Bomb Release Capability
During Operation Thor, essential data were collected for the development of the aircraft’s air-to-ground capabilities
Natal Air Base (BANT) witnessed another milestone in the development of the F-39 Gripen. Over the past two weeks, the aircraft underwent intensive trials to validate the safe separation of bombs, ensuring predictable, stable release without compromising the platform’s integrity.
The main objective was to further enhance the F-39’s air-to-ground capabilities, thereby expanding the Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) strategic capacity. According to the overall coordinator of Operation Thor, Colonel Aviator Alisson Henrique Vieira, separation occurs when the pilot activates the weapon-release button—a sensitive phase of the mission. “At times, aerodynamic phenomena can interfere with this process and create unsafe situations or even damage the aircraft. That is why everything is meticulously analyzed for validation, allowing us to proceed safely toward operational clearance,” he explained.
Each release was monitored in real time to verify safe bomb separation and aircraft stability under different conditions. At the Maxaranguape bombing range, north of Natal, a dedicated team tracked all flights. Personnel were responsible for target preparation, coordination with the aircraft, and recording imagery to verify and determine the coordinates of weapon impact points.
An essential step toward increasing the F-39 Gripen’s operational readiness, Operation Thor, was completed this Friday (06/02). According to Mikael Olsson, Saab’s Head of Flight Testing, the campaign’s success confirms the platform’s progress and highlights Brazil’s pioneering role as the first nation to conduct separation tests of the Mk84 bomb and the Lizard 500 laser-guided bomb from the Gripen. “The data obtained reinforce how the aircraft significantly enhances the Brazilian Air Force’s capabilities,” he said.
Regarded as state-of-the-art in fighter aircraft, the F-39 Gripen features cutting-edge technologies and the most modern systems, sensors, and weapons for operations in hostile environments and complex combat scenarios. In the near future, the aircraft will be able to perform air defense, ground-attack, and reconnaissance missions with high efficiency, availability, and low operating costs.■
