08 April
2004
F-X Is
Over (?) or a F-X Plan B.
Exclusive
Defesanet
After several years of intense
work that included: officers, pilots, technicians and aeronautical
engineers of Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira/FAB),
domestic and international competitors and an intense press
mobilization, including some polemics and offenses, the
brazilian F-X Program is over. Ends as began in and irreal
world. Maybe all program was imersed in an irreal world. FAB
dream of choose the best fighter available in the international
market; without restrictions on weapons, transfer of technology, high
offsets fall in the reality, lack of funds. And maybe the
lack of intentions, too.
Discussions with wrong
focus and deeply rooted on personal views, than a thinking of
the Brazilian Air Force as a national power grassed all these
years. Unforunatelly the good wishes and the desire for
optimal reached the final form on a scribble.
Today an article of Klécio
Santos, Journal Zero
Hora, (08ABR04), gives a
news about the government intention to transform the 'Fill
Gap', interin solution after the desactivation of Mirage III
EBR, 1ºGDA, until the arrival of the new fighter, aircraft
defined on F-X Program, in a definitive sollution. Confirm
rumors launched FAB representatives, during FIDAE,
Santiago do Chile, past week, with the news of possible Mirage
IIIEBR modernisation. Proposal now cancelled, according
Klesio´s article. This means that including a cheap proposal
reach an
agreement.
Not more endless debates, what fighter is better:
Gripen x Mirage x Sukhoi35. Will remain only the bitter taste on talks
about : Cheetah or Kfir C10.Who knows new comers
as : F16 A/B ( Belgians or Dutch), Mirage 2000 (United Arab
Emirates) or a last chance for an F-X competitor offering national
surplus.
Is necessary wait to see what will be the last word in this
affair of President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva. Other
programs currently in activity at slow pace: F5BR, ALX,
AMX-M will not be more delayed? And a final decision
on P-3BR and C-295, with contracts discussed and agreed,
waiting for the final signature? Which are the perspective of Navy and
Army, que hadn´t the chance to start a similar discussion as of
F-X?
Most important s make the question - which is the future of
Armed Forces in this government? Armed Forces that by the first
time played significant role in taking part at the presidential
eection in 2002. Eternal discussion on F-X let the fase
impression that this government had a plan or vision for the Armed
Forces.
The feeling to go back or the time isn´t
running is evident. The title of this bulletin is the same of
one edited in 07 AUG 02 ( F-X do
B). Maybe the time not runned and
we(brazilians) had no: presidential elections, a new government,
a new minister, new
commander, and.........
To the Klecio
Santos article, jornal Zero Hora
http://www.defesanet.com.br/fx/zhfx portuguese
http://www.defesanet.com.br/fx/zhfxeng
( English) includes links to other
articles)
Newsletter "F-X do
B" 07 AGO 2002 (portuguese)http://www.defesanet.com.br/dn/07AGO02.htm
Presidnt Lula article
while workers Party Leader on F-X Sept 2001 (
portuguese)