Posted on 09/03/2009 11:21:01 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Brazil's president likes French fighter aircraft
BRASILIA (AFP) - France's offer to transfer technology to Brazil gives its Rafale fighter an "exceptional comparative advantage" over Swedish-made Gripen, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said.
"A country of Brazil's importance cannot buy a product from another country without technology transfer," Lula said in an exclusive interview with AFP.
"France has shown itself to be the most flexible country in terms of transferring technology, and evidently, this is an exceptional comparative advantage," the Brazilian president said.
The Rafale, made by France's Dassault, is in fierce competition with Saab's Swedish-made Gripen and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet for a contract worth several billion dollars to supply Brazil with 36 fighter aircraft.
Two weeks ago Saab president Åke Svensson told reporters in Sao Paulo that not only would Gripen technology be offered, but Brazil stood to benefit by participating in future exports of the Swedish jet, which is poised to go into production.
Lula would not say which aircraft he prefers but said he may talk Thursday with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy after meeting with Brazil's defense minister and the commander of the air force.
Sarkozy is scheduled to make a 24 hour visit Sunday to Brasilia where he will be the guest of honor at Brazil's independence day celebrations.
Lula recalled that during the visit Brazil and France would finalize a separate deal to acquire French submarines and helicopters.
"France is the only important country ready to discuss with us technology transfers in all these domains," he said.
"Brazil has drawn up a strategic defense plan. We are convinced ... that because of the Amazon, our deep-water offshore oil deposits, Brazil should have a defense industry in keeping with its size and importance," Lula said.
its a pretty plane, but short legs, little payload, no super cruise, no stealth. Ok against pirates, until they can get the US to save their bacon.
Umm, the Rafale has a payload of about 9 tonnes-only beaten by the F-15E and can be modified with conformal fuel tanks for improved range. While its not pure stealth, it’s employs a range of RCS reducing features.And its done very well in exercises against the USN.
Well, it is true that it is a pretty plane. However, the rest of what you said is extremely inaccurate.
It has good range for a plane of its class, and with conformal tanks very good range. It's payload is actually very very good. It is due to get new engines that should give it low supercruise in A2A configuration. As for stealth, not only does it have RCS-reducing measures (similar to those of the Superhornet), but it also has a powerful and sophisticated jamming suite, that while not true stealth does make it very discrete.
As for fighting against pirates, well ...it would do a great job. However, it would also do a great job against the SuperHornet, the Gripen, MiGs, and any other plane it could find in its regional space. Have a Brazilian flying a Superhornet vs a Brazilian flying a Rafale, and I'd put my money on the Rafale (note: we are not talking about flying against the entire naval air-structure of the US Navy, but rather individual airframes). The Rafale is a better purchase decision for Brazil, even if the US offered the SuperBug with TOT and no strings attached (forget about no strings btw). With the new engines, and the upcoming AESA, the Rafale will be better than anything in the region, including Hugo's SU-30s. Add in advanced stand-off weapon systems, like the stealth cruise missile Scalp EG (Storm Shadow) to penetrate more advanced IADS, and the Rafale far more than meets Brazil's requirements.
Not only is it the best choice for them, it is easily the best choice. From a weapons perspective, technology transfer perspective, growth of local industry (particularly advancement), as well as from a political standpoint (sure, one of the biggest selling points for the SuperHornet would be better political ties with the US, but the oil reserves in Brazil, as well as its regional dominance, anyways guarantees the US will still strive for better ties with Brazil - whether or not the SuperHornet is acquired) and from a reliability standpoint (FRance does not have strings like the US does, and parts supply and what-not doesn't just get cut off).
Thus, not only is it a pretty plane, but it has good range, has great payload, can currently do supercruise clean and will do supercruise in the future with new engines in basic A2A config, and has RCS reduction measures equal to the SuperHornets, but with a very advanced active cancellation suite added. On top of this, add full transfer of technology, as well as political assurance nothing gets cut out if Brazil shimmies to the left rather than to the right, and suddenly you have the perfect plane for Brazil.
As for the US saving Brazil's bacon ...anything that Brazil could not handle with the Rafale, they definitely would not handle with the Hornet (basic or super bug). Thus, the point is moot.
I am pretty sure that the old B-52 has better payload than Rafael too. Vastly different class than Rafael.
Straight question. Does Brazil have aircraft carriers? If not, then why would they sign up for the added expense and limited capability of a carrier capable aircraft? I know that Finland and Switzerland did with their F-18s, but don’t see the trade off myself.
Umm, I thought we were discussing tactical fighters over here. And besides, is this the B-52 or it’s younger siblings up for export??
Yes Brazil has a carrier operating old Skyhawks.About the limited capability, I don’t know what you’re referring to, but the Rafale was designed for both land and carrier operations. And the Super Hornet, which is also on offer, is as no slouch either.
Maybe is a purely political move. Doesn’t Brazil manufacture the Embraer?
Embraer is primarily into commercial jets,
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