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.’

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