Brazil launches plan to buy new jet fighters By Raymond Colitt
BRASILIA, July 3 (Reuters) - Brazil's air force has launched the process to buy at least 36 fighter jets as part of a broader plan to modernize after most of its neighbors overhauled their fleets, officials said on Thursday.
Brazil wants to buy and build equipment to defend offshore oil assets and a porous Amazon border threatened by armed drug-traffickers and foreign guerrillas.
In February, Colombia ordered 24 Kfir bomber jets from Israel, while Venezuela acquired 24 Russian Sukhoi jets and said last month it is considering buying more. Chile bought new Boeing F-16s and Peru decided to upgrade its jets.
Upon taking office in January 2003, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva scrapped plans to replace aging Mirage jets, saying he would use the money to feed the poor.
Now, the air force wants a multi-role fighter to replace its entire fleet of fighter jets over the next 15 years. That could increase the size of the order to more than 100 aircraft.
It chose six manufacturers to participate in the procurement process and last month requested information on their aircraft, the Air Force press department said.
The six selected models are Boeing's (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) F-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) F-35 Lightning II, Dassault's (AVMD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) Rafale, Sukhoi's SU-35, Saab's (SAABb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research) Gripen and Eurofighter's Typhoon.
Brazil is seeking a generous technology transfer package, possibly including local assembly, to help develop its own aviation industry and perform maintenance of the aircraft. Continued...
Source
http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN0230831720080703
Back to Index
Move to Top 
