Posted on 03/28/2010 12:29:24 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Brazil plans to announce in early April the winner of a multi-billion-dollar competition for modern fighter jets meant to cement its new role as Latin America's preeminent military power.
The tender, though, has been marked by infighting between Brazil's air force and government, and fierce rivalry between the three nations vying to score the deal.
The finalists now comprise France's Rafale made by Dassault, Sweden's Gripen NG by Saab, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet by US giant Boeing.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's stated preference for the ultra-sophisticated, semi-stealth Rafale jet annoyed the air force, which preferred the much cheaper and easier-to-maintain Gripen.
The Super Hornet, in contrast, has languished in the race -- less because of performance comparisons than Brazil's hard-learned lessons that US companies are more reluctant to give full access to their military technology.
Throughout the competition, Lula and his defense minister, Nelson Jobim, have underscored technology transfer as their top priority so that Brazil could not only build its own next-generation fighters but also export them.
That ambition derives from Brazil's growing global clout, and the expectation that Latin America's biggest economy now deserves a seat at the top table alongside UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
France's jet bid was bolstered by the fact that Brazil's strategic pact with Paris that has already seen it sign a 12-billion-dollar deal in early 2009 to buy 50 helicopters and five submarines from France. One of the submarines will be built to run on nuclear power.
(Excerpt) Read more at haveeru.com.mv ...
The initial purchase will be for 36 aircraft to patrol Brazil's vast airspace over the next 30 years, with an option to add nearly 100 more.
36 aircraft? And 50 helicopters from France? To patrol about 1/2 the continent of SA?
LOL, the City of Los Angeles has more aircraft than that. And I'm only talking about Channel 4 News!
I’m sick and tired of the LAPD choppers roving around at 1 in the morning.
FR really makes me happy ...the opinions can be so starkly opposed that it borders on the bizarre! There have been a couple of threads on the Brazil aircraft tender, with (as always happens) some FReepers with more bandwidth than brains asking why Brazil needs aircraft. The same also occurs whenever any country seeks to build up its defensive requirements.
Now another Brazil thread comes up, and now the aircraft are NOT enough. This is similar to what occurs when a European country (most recently on FR, 2 weeks ago when Sweden was amping up its Gripen NG project) seeks to boost its defensive ability. FReepers inevitably ask why the country needs planes/guns/artillery/ships/shoelaces etc. Then an adjacent thread has other FReepers complaining how Europe never spends anything on defense and instead relies totally on Uncle Sam.
Interesting
Btw, I totally agree with you. Brazil is too big for only 36 aircraft. I was not knocking your post, but rather those who feel like certain nations should not be purchasing arms. Rule of thumb: a free country, spending its OWN money, can and should purchase whatever conventional arms its exchequer can afford. It's not like the American tax payer is paying for it in this case!
Now, there is the other case of those who take it personally when non-US weapon systems are selected (eg whenever a non US front runner crops up in the Brazil and Indian aircraft tenders). Eg this week on another Brazil thread when some FReeper called the Brazilians fools for not havingthe SuperHornet as the front runner. Actually, they would be fools IF the SuperBug was ahead of the GripenNG and/or the Rafale!
If you want to stand up against America, it is best to do it with American equipment!
Brazil, as you pointed out, has the perogative to purchase as much hardware as its budget will allow. Same with India, which is also leaning toward the Swedish Gripen NG. Of course, I was being sarcastic in pointing out how 50 helicopters are a drop in the bucket for a country as large as Brazil.
As max americana says, helicopters in the LA area are as ubiquitous as gnats in early summer. It's just a fact of life if you have to live there. They are effective against gangs and fugitives.
It's too bad when US companies are out-competed by foreign manufacturers. We could use the jobs. But jealous? No, the Swedes just make better aircraft for the jobs India and Brazil need done. Maintenance costs and sharing of technical information seems to be major issues when it comes to sales. I am wondering why the State Dept (HRC's visit) is pimping for US companies. We need a military and we need industry, but we DON'T need a miltary-industrial complex with interchangeable executives in the Defense Dept. and Lockheed, Boeing, etc Boards of Directors. Defense Contractors want a guaranteed clientel in the Federal Government. That's crony capitalism, not laissez faire!
Do the French jets come with rearview mirrors so they can see where they’re going?
The French Mirage worked well for the Israelis.
They make some great hardware, that cant be denied.
Aesthetically I like the Eurofighter over the Rafale though.
I loved to drive down the Harbor Freeway at night and see those choppers over South LA. It is almost straight out of Blade Runner.
Since this is Latin America what is the over/under on the bribes. I would think the French would have the upper hand on this although Sweden can play ball too; whole Bofors bribery scandal in India around 20 years ago.
Brazil is not a friend of the US.
Ummm...this reporter has no dog in this fight, right?
Don't be silly. All US supplied equipment comes with a soopersicrit circuit which will shut it down when some nerd in the Pentagon basement flips a switch.
Brazil is a freind of Brazil.
This whole exercise is purely about how much the Brazil Pols and “Officials” will take home from the deal. The Brazilian economy is booming in spite of the massive GOV bribery and corruption, high taxes and unions trying to block anything except another holiday.
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