More foreign governments eyeing Super Hornet

[tigershark]

More foreign governments eyeing Super Hornet

By Tim Logan
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/15/2008

Foreign interest in the Super Hornet may be picking up.

Boeing Co. said Friday it is starting talks with the governments of both Brazil and Denmark about buying dozens of the St. Louis-built fighter jets.

The deals, if they happen, could be worth billions of dollars and would help sustain thousands of local jobs building the F/A-18 at Boeing's Hazelwood plants.

And the talks, coming as debate rages in Washington over the Air Force buying planes from a European company, highlight the fact that some of Boeing's best sales prospects lie overseas.   A top Boeing defense executive spent three days this week in Brazil meeting with military and business leaders about that country's interest in buying at least 20 fighter jets.  Russia's Sukhoi, Sweden's Saab and France's Dassault Aviation also are interested in bidding for the contract, worth an estimated $2.2 billion. But Boeing sees an opportunity, said Bob Gower, who oversees F-18 programs.   "We don't have a lot of history in Brazil," he said. "But they have an interest in what the Super Hornet can bring to the party." Boeing also was recently invited by the defense ministry of Denmark to discuss pitching the Super Hornet for a fighter competition that country has under way.

Full story
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/5B44608CE4E2C3BE8625740D000A48A1?OpenDocument

[Webmaster]

Like I stated earlier, Boeing hasn't got a chance. But good job Brazil and Denmark to not dismiss Boeing before letting them put their cards on the table!