SAO PAULO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Brazil is advancing toward defense sovereignty with the unveiling of its first domestically built F-39E Gripen supersonic fighter jet, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday.
"Brazil marks an important era from today from an aerospace technological point of view," the president said during a ceremony at the Embraer industrial complex in Sao Paulo.
The new aircraft, a next-generation fighter designed for air defense, reconnaissance and attack missions, is equipped with advanced sensor and communication systems, according to official reports. It will undergo testing before its final delivery to the Brazilian Air Force.
According to the Brazilian government, the aircraft places Brazil among a select group of nations capable of developing and producing high-complexity combat aircraft.
The Brazilian Air Force said that the program has generated over 2,000 direct jobs and nearly 10,000 indirect ones while integrating the country's industry into the global aeronautical sector. ■