The last four military personnel underwent Delta Conversion Training in the Swedish Air Force, which included theoretical and practical classes and simulator flights.
The last group of operational pilots responsible for the deployment of the F-39 Gripen in the 1st Air Defense Group (1st GDA) of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) completed in June the Delta Conversion Training, a rigorous training held at the Gripen Centre, at F 7 Wing in Såtenäs, western Sweden.
The course, taught by the Phoenix Squadron of the Swedish Air Force, is divided into two stages. The Conversion Training, with 11 weeks duration and 50 flights per pilot, comprises the basic operation of the fighter both in solo missions and in formation in the day and night periods. The Combat Readiness Training includes 25 flights in approximately nine weeks of duration where the fighter’s air-to-air combat capabilities are explored with the use of missiles, cannon and the use of the man-machine interface, one of the main highlights of Gripen.
“The Phoenix Squadron is dedicated to training Gripen pilots and we are properly equipped for this, including flight simulators. The Brazilian pilots are very well trained and come here with great operational experience, both those coming from the F-5M and AMX units. They learned very quickly how the Gripen works, how to configure it and how to fly it”,
revealed Major Richard Carlqvist, commander of the Phoenix Squadron.
The Gripen Center serves as a hub for the training of pilots who will fly the Gripen, both from foreign nations and from the Swedish Air Force itself. Throughout the course, students train on the Gripen C/D, one-seat and two-seat respectively. Even though it is a different version of the fighters acquired by Brazil, this contact is fundamental, as it helps pilots understand the philosophy of the systems, their mode of operation and how their flight commands work, given the similarity in some aspects between the aircraft.
“After adapting to Gripen C/D in Sweden, our pilots will have their conversion to Gripen E carried out entirely in Brazil with the means already available at the 1st GDA, mainly by the planning stations and flight simulators. The courses are held within the 1st GDA and taught by Swedish pilots already selected to remain at Anápolis Air Base as flight instructors and who, together with the Brazilian pilots, began the conversion and operational deployment of the vector”,
explained Lieutenant Colonel Gustavo de Oliveira Pascotto, commander of the 1st GDA.
The Brazilian Gripen Program involves a large transfer of technology between Brazil and Sweden and the interaction of the two countries is constant, generating benefits for both involved.
“The cooperation between the Swedish and Brazilian air forces is very good and happens on several levels. We host the Brazilian fighter pilots here in Såtenäs, but we also have a support group from our base in Anápolis helping the FAB with the introduction of the Gripen E into service. The cooperation and conversations between the teams are very good,”
said Colonel Adam Nelson, F 7 Wing commander.
Remember the training
The Gripen Center at F 7 Wing has already received 17 FAB pilots. The current commander of the 1st GDA, Lieutenant Colonel Gustavo Pascotto, and Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Lincoln Santos Fórneas were the first FAB pilots to take the Gripen C/D course, still as captains, in 2014.
Then, it was the turn of three test pilots from the FAB’s Institute of Research and Flight Tests, with Lieutenant Colonel Cristiano de Oliveira, still in the rank of major, having been the first Brazilian to fly the Gripen E, closing now with the three classes of four operational pilots each.
*** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team) ***