Posted on 02/23/2010 9:37:54 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Brazil will likely designate the winner of a multi-billion-dollar tender to supply its air force with modern jet fighters by the end of March, the head of the service, General Juniti Saito, said Tuesday. Saito stressed that it would be a "political and strategic decision" made by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, following the air force's technical evaluation of the three bids.
France's Rafale, an omnirole fighter made by Dassault, is seen as the leading contender after Lula and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said last September that negotiations were underway for Brazil to buy 36 of them.
Lula said his preference for the French jet derived from France's offer to give Brazil all the technology involved in the Rafale's construction -- a key point for Brazil, which wants the knowhow to one day make its own modern fighters.
But the air force, through leaks in the Brazilian media, has indicated it prefers the much cheaper Gripen NG jet from Sweden's Saab.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacewar.com ...
Once everybody picks their 5th gen airpower platforms, we need to come out with something that makes them all completely obsolete. I think unmanned fighter/bombers will be the ticket. This is America, that’s how we roll.
Better make sure those datalinks are secure.
Ping.
Crappy jets.
Thanks for the ping.
Nothing crappy about the Rafale, Super Hornet, or Gripen.
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