Brazil MMRCA contest.

Brazil Would Get Tech Transfer in Boeing Buy: Panetta

Apr. 25, 2012 - 01:41PM |
By JORDI ZAMORA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil will get U.S. advanced technology transfer if it buys Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet to upgrade its air force, visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said April 25.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet is up against the Rafale fighter, made by French firm Dassault Aviation, and Swedish manufacturer Saab’s Gripen for Brazil’s contract for 36 multi-role combat aircraft valued at between $4 billion and $7 billion.

Brazil, Latin America’s dominant power and the world’s sixth largest economy, is now insisting on technology transfer in all its defense agreements.

In a clear sign of Washington’s desire to win the lucrative contract, Panetta said: “This offer, which has the strong support of the U.S. Congress, contains an unprecedented advanced technology sharing that is reserved for only our closest allies and partners.”

In an address to a military academy, Panetta added: “This offer is about much more than providing Brazil with the best fighter available. With the Super Hornet, Brazil’s defense and aviation industries would be able to transform their partnerships with U.S. companies, and they would have the best opportunity to plug into worldwide markets.”

On its first visit to Brazil since he was appointed in 2011, Panetta held talks with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim in Brasilia on April 24.

The two inaugurated the new Defense Cooperation Dialogue, which was agreed to during President Dilma Rousseff’s recent visit to Washington.

Amorim made clear after meeting Panetta that Brasilia’s main interest was securing technology transfer from the new alliance proposed by Washington.

Panetta also said Washington welcomed Brazil’s rise as a global power.

“This is a relationship between two global powers, and we welcome Brazil’s growing strength. We support Brazil as a global leader and seek closer defense cooperation,” he noted.

“We won’t agree on every matter — no two countries, not even the closest allies, ever do. But I do believe that our common interests are so great, and the possibilities that come from our cooperation are so tangible, that we must seize this opportunity to build a stronger defense partnership for the future.”

In addition to technology transfer, Brasilia also wants some of the jet fighters to be assembled on its home turf, which according to analysts might favor the Rafale.

In a related development, France’s Rafale International consortium signed three agreements with southern Brazilian firms to broaden its technological cooperation if Brasilia picks the Rafale, Jean-Marc Merialdo, head of Dassault’s Brazilian unit, said.

“We are taking another step to broaden our cooperation,” he told AFP from Porto Alegre.

Since late 2010, the consortium has already organized four seminars in several Brazilian cities to widen its range of partners should the Rafale be selected for Brazil’s air force upgrade.

France is offering full technology transfers in its bid to win the contract.

Meanwhile, Brasilia was irked by the recent U.S. cancelation of a $380 million contract with Embraer to buy 20 AT-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Embraer for Afghan forces.

Embraer and its U.S. partner, Sierra Nevada, were awarded the contract in December but the U.S. Air Force called off the deal in February after a legal challenge from rival Hawker Beechcraft Corp.

The Pentagon has called for a new round of bidding for the contract, but in any case, the equipment will not be delivered before 2014.

The Brazilian-U.S. dialogue is also meant to resolve other issues such as the U.S. decision in 2008 to reactivate its 4th Fleet in the South Atlantic, a strategic and resource-rich area where regional countries do not want any external military presence.

Panetta on April 23 began his first Latin America tour in Colombia and was also to visit Chile after Brazil in a bid to boost military cooperation and regional security ties.

Brazil Would Get Tech Transfer in Boeing Buy: Panetta | Defense News | defensenews.com

Boeing, Embraer sign MoU for KC-390 cooperation

So things are moving.

Brasil isn't buying any American planes until they clear the deal for Super Tucanos to Astan.

They're in a chicken-and-hen conundrum then as the Americans might also be holding up the Super Tucano deal until Brazil acts in Super Hornet's favor...

Asianobserve, any news about how the Malaysian MRCA is progressing?

Still under evaluation. The Defence Ministry is really keeping its cards close to its chest. But one thing is clear there's not much widespread public enthusiasm into this deal. The submarine scandal is still fresh in everybody's minds. In fact, a lot of our defence observers are resigned to the possibility that in the end the (greased) politicians will select the aircraft (hope not).

Well, it is almost always a political decision.

What is interesting to note is which aircraft they will actually choose with political interference, an aircraft that IAF already has(MKI), an aircraft IAF recently chose(Rafale) or American political pressure(SH).

This project is for the replacement of our ageing Mig29s. So a smaller air frame, either EF or Rafale, will be chosen. Our politicians don't bow down too much on political pressure, they however would bow down on bribe pressure...

If it is the Mig-29 that needs replacement then MKI(could be too heavy) or EF is the better option. If Hornets need to go, then Rafale or SH is the way to go.

Whatever the case we only need to wait and watch, like Brazil.

Thanks.

The origins of the current F-X2 programme, which aims to renew the Forga Aerea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force, FAB) fighter fleet, date back to July 2000 and the launch of the Programs de Fortalecimento de Controle do Espago Aereo Brasileiro (Programme for the Improvement of Brazilian Airspace Control), an evolution of Plan Phoenix that had been established four years earlier. Of the programme’s $3.5-billion total value, up to $700 million was allocated for the acquisition of between 12 and 24 examples of a fighter capable of replacing the Dassault Mirage IIIDBR/EBR flown by lu Grupo de Defesa Aerea (1st Air Defence Group) since 1972, this being the unit charged with the defence of Brazil’s capital, Brasilia...

Brazilian FX-2 programme

Excellent article. Cleared quite a few questions that I had, especially when it came to aircraft rejections.

Operational costs for Gripen are wrong though.

Hopefully a winner is announced within the year.

Brazil Again Puts Off Decision in Fighter Jet Competition

Jul. 7, 2012 - 12:03PM |
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Brazil Again Puts Off Decision in Fighter Jet Competition | Defense News | defensenews.com

It is progressing as slowly as ever.

Surprising they have broken our record when it comes to decision making

Brasil is waiting on India to make its decision. It isn't for lack of money as they started $6 billion for smart border fence.