Brazil MMRCA contest.

[Armand2REP]

Uncle hasn't had much success exporting Super Hornets. Only 24 Australia in a stop-gap sale. It's over...

 

[IBSA]

You mean the Su-35. I don't think there was a MiG in the competition. Anyway, Su-35 has been rejected in the first round.

I heard Brazil only wants an aircraft with the best ToT at the cheapest price. Only Gripen comes to mind, if you compare it to Rafale and Super Hornet.

Do you have any information on how many aircraft participated initially and how many were rejected, perhaps even the grounds for rejection?

I don't think the Grippen the winner, because it is made for Swedish defence's reality and needs. Sweden has cold climate and a very small size than that of Brazil. The Grippen flight's range nor reach outs half of our territory in a south-north or east-west flight and will need to be refueled already.

Super-Hornet is from American origin, then there's an embargo issue that threats a future buy of components for the planes. Brazil don't want to stay dependent of the Americans.

So, I remain thinking the Rafale will be the Brazilian choice probably.

 

[asianobserve]

xxx unlike the Lula government which was overtly pro-American, Dilma government seems more focused on Pan-South Americanism. xxx

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/ideas/2012/0...hase-in-foreign-affairs-under-dilma-rousseff/

"A new course?

By contrast, Dilma has been perceived as a less confrontational character than Lula, including representatives of the free market establishment like the Wall Street Journal and the Economist. Unlike Lula she did not travel much in her first year as president and is believed to be more pragmatic in her foreign policy. Brazilian commentators like the University of Brasilia's Carlos Pio and Otaciano Nogueira feel that she has not played a particularly visible role at the global level while also allowing the foreign ministry, Itamaraty, to regain its traditional control over foreign affairs. They have noted that she has played down relations with Africa and did not add her voice to other countries denouncing the Gaddafi regime when it turned on its own citizens in the early months of the Arab Spring.

Dilma's quieter approach was also deemed to be evident in the relatively cordial relationship with the US. This was especially apparent in the wake of Barack Obama's visit to Brazil last March, when the US president came with the intention of promoting American business and trade. The visit did not lead to any significant results – indeed, Brazilian desire for Obama's endorsement of a permanent UN SC seat never materialised – although this may be due in part to the changes in the Brazilian economy (where trade with the US has declined to around a quarter and is now split with other markets) and the media, which has less interest in the US-Brazilian relationship.

No longer business as usual

Despite these nuances between Dilma and Lula, Brazilian foreign policy objectives have been largely constant over several decades. Under dictatorship (1964-85) and democracy (since 1985), Brazilian leaders have pursued great power status and sought economic development to achieve that end, whether under the generals' protectionist and state-led form of capitalism, Fernando Henrique Cardoso's (1995-2002) endorsement of free market globalisation or Lula's more qualified support of it. In this regard Dilma's comments in favour of the newly formed Community of Latin American and Caribbean States which brings together all the hemisphere's member states (and excludes the US and Canada) indicates continuity with the Lula period. (On this aspect)

xxx"

 

[Armand2REP]

Nothing has changed between US-Brasil relations. They are still affiliated with French products and share a border with the country. They sail French carrier, fly French jets, build French submarines, produce French OPVs and mass produce French helicopters. With the exception of attack helicopters, France has won every major tender for the last decade. None of it went to Uncle.

 

[Armand2REP]

US gives up on Brazil MMRCA by cancelling Super Tucano order

RIO DE JANEIRO/SÃO PAULO (Reuters) - A decision by the United States to cancel a $355 million defense aircraft contract with Brazilian planemaker Embraer (EMBR3.SA) has surprised the government of Brazil which had hoped for the development of a bilateral defense program, Brazil's Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said in a statement that the government was "surprised" with the cancellation "especially with the way that it happened and the timing." The U.S. Air Force earlier this week called off the purchase of 20 Embraer's Super Tucano jets due to problems with documentation.

The light, ground-attack aircraft was sought to provide close air support for the Afghan Army in the field and as a turbo-prop training plane for Afghan Air Force pilots. With future orders, the contract is believed to be worth as much as $1 billion.

"The government believes that this situation doesn't help to the progress of bilateral relations on the defense area," the statement said.

The cancellation comes as the U.S. seeks to sell fighter aircraft to Brazil. Boeing Co's (BA.N) F-18 "Super Hornet" fighter is in competition with Dassault's Rafale (AVMD.PA) and Saab's (SAABb.ST) "Gripen NG" for an order of at least 36 jets for Brazil's Air Force.

Reuters reported on February 12, citing unnamed government sources, that Brazil is "very likely" to choose Dassault in the bid. The cancellation of the Embraer deal caused some senior figures within President Dilma Rousseff's administration to wonder if it was retaliation for Boeing reportedly falling out of favor, officials told Reuters this week.

U.S. jet contract decision surprised Brazil government | Reuters

 

[Zebra]

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

 

[asianobserve]

Boeing, Embraer sign MoU for KC-390 cooperation

So things are moving.

 

[Armand2REP]

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

 

[asianobserve]

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...

 

[p2prada]

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

 

[asianobserve]

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).

 

[p2prada]

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).

 

[asianobserve]

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...

 

[p2prada]

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.

 

[toninigr]

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

 

[p2prada]

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.

 

[Zebra]

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

 

[p2prada]

It is progressing as slowly as ever.

 

[vishwaprasad]

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

 

[Armand2REP]

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.