In November 2025, Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB – the Brazilian Air Force) reached a significant milestone by successfully firing the METEOR Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM) from a Gripen E aircraft for the first time, thereby enhancing Brazil’s air defence capabilities. Both missiles hit their designated targets with precision, demonstrating their effectiveness against long-range targets.
The missile tests were conducted during the BVR-X Technical Exercise at Natal Air Base in Rio Grande do Norte. The exercise involved 1.º Grupo de Defesa Aérea (the 1st Defence Group) and saw four Gripen E fighters take part in a large-scale operation. It marked the first occasion on which FAB technicians and pilots had the opportunity to handle and employ METEOR missiles in combat-like conditions.
“The BVR-X was a crucial step in expanding the capabilities of the F-39E Gripen. The Gripen and METEOR combination projects Brazil’s combat power and strengthens the deterrence required by our Air Force and, above all, by the country. With advanced sensors, mission systems and electronic warfare capabilities, combined with a missile designed to make evasion virtually impossible, this combination provides a decisive advantage in air combat.” – said Air Major General Breno Diogenes Gonçalves, Commander of Natal Air Base and Director of the Technical Exercise.
“The success of this operation reflects the strong partnership between the Brazilian Air Force, Saab and MBDA. Through this close collaboration, we are bringing cutting-edge technology to Brazil. The Gripen and METEOR combination places the country among the few nations worldwide with access to this level of air combat innovation.” – commented Peter Dölling, Managing Director at Saab Brasil.
“METEOR is one of the best examples of what is at the core of MBDA’s DNA: cooperation. It is the result of the joint effort of six European nations, led by MBDA, to create the most sophisticated air-to-air weapon system in operation today. The missile, already certified for use with Gripen E in Sweden, is a game-changer that ensures air superiority for its operator. Brazil now benefiting from this capability is an element of pride for MBDA.” – explained Ricardo Mantovani, Vice President Export Sales Americas at MBDA.
The METEOR is a European active radar-guided missile being manufactured by MBDA Missile Systems. What makes the missile especially effective, is its ramjet motor, which provides sustained thrust throughout the entire flight to intercept the target. As a result, the METEOR offers the largest No Escape Zone of any medium-range air-to-air missile currently available. Its exceptional kinematic performance and blast-fragmentation warhead deliver maximum effectiveness. The METEOR is capable of engaging a wide variety of targets at any time of day or night, in all weather conditions and even in environments characterised by the presence of electronic warfare.
Preparations for the BVR-X technical exercise were supported by Saab, MBDA and several FAB units, including the Operational Applications Institute, which received valuable knowledge on how to use the METEOR missiles. The maritime area where the tests were conducted was secured by patrol aircraft to ensure safe launch conditions. The targets were two highly manoeuvrable Mirach 100/5 drones, designed specifically for this exercise. These replicated the speed and altitude profile of a modern fighter aircraft, creating a demanding scenario that demonstrated the precision of the METEOR and enhanced the realism of the evaluation.
The exercise demonstrated the high level of the Gripen E effectiveness, particularly when paired with the METEOR missile, undelining its importance to the air defence capabilities of the Brazilian Air Force.
Cover photo: The Brazilian Air Force F-39E Gripen firing the METEOR missile. All photos and quotations: ©Saab
The Saab company press materials were used.
