Brazil negotiates the acquisition of older models of its new fighter, as a way to avoid a blackout in the country’s defense system.
The lack of funds and high costs have already delayed in eight years the delivery of the last plane, and the contract additives have cost the equivalent of six more devices, according to the FAB (Brazilian Air Force).
This week, the power commander, Brigadier Marcelo Damasceno, was in to discuss with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson, the terms with the Nordic country.
One was signed, in which the main information was the confirmation of the acquisition already announced of four Embraer KC-390 transport aircraft by. Less prominent was the negotiation for the acquisition of more Gripen for Brazil.
So far, the married business was known, but what is not written is that the table is the option for Brazil not only to broaden its new gripen model fleet, E/F, but also buy Used Units from A C/D.
There is no decision made. The FAB and the Swedish government summed up their comments to the published document. Swedish manufacturer Saab did not speak up.
According to people with knowledge of the subject, the FAB even did not abandon the analysis of a proposal for American fighters F-16, which would represent a huge setback of image for the Swedes.
This negotiation came at the beginning of last year, and was seen in the market as a way to boost the married purchase of new Gripen and a. It worked out.
The problem is that Brazil wants to expand from 36 to up to 50 aircraft the fleet of the new hunt, model and/f, whose first unit made in the interior of São Paulo should be presented in this semester. To do so, it is necessary to make a maximum additive of 25% in, something in the house of $ 5 billion.
This is seen as unfeasible in full, so a mixed solution, with perhaps 6 new and 12 used gripen could be adopted. The problem, which applies to a possible acquisition of F-16 shelf, is again the lack of money for direct purchase.
The arrangement itself would not be unheard of: from 2006 to 2013, from France held the ends of central Brazil air defense until they expired.
The main fear of the FAB is with the AMX fleet, which is an Italian-Brazilian plane of solo attack, based on Santa Maria (RS). The 30 devices of the type, without considering how many are operational, will be retired soon.
Everything, however, goes through money. Last week, FAB’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier Walcyr Josué de Castilho Araújo, provided a dark picture to Senators of the Foreign Relations and Defense Commission.
He said the budget delays over the years, as is well known, delayed the Gripen program. By the 2014 program, the last fighter should be delivered in 2024. So far, ten planes are in Brazil, and the time flying this year.
Irrealist, a flood of planes would arrive in the country until 2027 and the contract would be fulfilled. The new additive traded this year has already pushed delivery to 2032, eight years after the initial forecast.
The expense on these additives, 12 so far according to the Brigadeiro, the program have been able over the years by 13.43%, which would equivalent to six additional aircraft according to the terms agreed in 2014.
There is also the cost of development, with the third generation of fighter, Gripen e/F is essentially a new aircraft. The FAB does not include this public complaint, but it is widely shared by officers.
In addition, and this is an obstacle to the eventual purchase of used models, the latest member of the Sweden Alliance is at the front line of the renewed reaction of against A, in the wake of the war.
With 96 Gripen C/D and an order of 60 and/f, for Kiev for fear for its safety. Usually, less than 70 of Sweden’s 96 Gripen are operational, so losing 12 units has a significant impact on Stockholm capabilities.
