Brazilian Gripens to carry indigenous cruise missile
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has signed an MoU with Avibras to develop long-range cruise missiles.
Avibras will create ‘a reliable, efficient and advanced technology product, in order to meet the operational needs of the Air Force’, the FAB noted in a 23 November statement.
It will assist Avibras in the initial concept development phase, with the ultimate aim of arming the Gripen E/F.
Called MICLA-BR, the air-launched cruise missile will be powered by a reaction engine. According to the FAB, experience gained in developing this missile will be used to develop a family of weapons, with a role for the Brazilian defence industrial base and potential overseas sales.
Specifications for the MICLA-BR are still to be defined, but images on the FAB website appear to show a missile resembling the AV-TM 300.
Lt Brig Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, FAB Deputy Chief of Staff, said: ‘We are currently aligning strategies and paths of action. Within FAB's strategic projects, this is one of the most important. It will be the realisation of a project for the… F-39 Gripen.’
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
India readies private sector push as AMCA moves towards 2028 prototype
India’s stealth fighter ambitions gain fresh momentum as HAL opens the door to private sector involvement in AMCA Mk1A structural assembly, with strategic support growing for next-gen propulsion and sensor technologies.
-
BAE Systems reveals new GCAP demonstrator design with plans to fly by 2027
A key part in the trinational Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), this is the first crewed supersonic aircraft demonstrator to be built and developed in the UK in more than 40 years.
-
Kratos Defense makes European CCA push with Airbus partnership
Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie will be equipped with an Airbus-made mission system to be offered as a ‘European’ collaborative combat aircraft option to the German Air Force.
-
Anduril’s Barracuda-100M completes latest successful test flights
The munitions variant of the Barrauda-100 autonomous air vehicle is being tested for the US Army’s High-Speed Manoeuvrable Missile (HSMM) testbed programme, with further flight tests expected in 2026.
-
“Gloves are off” as US Defense Secretary memo calls for sweeping drone procurement reform
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has promised to usher in a new era of “military drone dominance”.
-
Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS
The possible sale for nine HH-60W by the US government could make Norway the first Foreign Military Sale customer for the rescue and combat helicopter and add to the country’s ongoing acquisition of Sikorsky-made helicopters.