France
seen leading race to equip Brazil air force
by
Claire de Oliveira
France's
modern combat jet, the Rafale, is seen as the leading
contender in a four-billion-dollar race to supply
the Brazilian air force ahead of a visit by French
President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Analysts
say France's offer to give Brazil the technology behind
the multi-role combat aircraft as part of the sale
of 36 planes could give it the edge over rival bids
from the United States and Sweden.
If
France's Dassault does sell its Rafales to Brazil,
it would be the first time the jets have been sold
abroad.
Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told AFP in an
exclusive interview ahead of Sarkozy's two-day visit
that the technology transfer offer gave the Rafale
"an exceptional comparative advantage" over
Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Saab's Gripen NG
fighters.
While
cautioning that Brazil's decision process still had
to be approved by air force commanders and lawmakers,
he praised France as "the only important country
ready to discuss transfer of technology in all areas
with us."
He
stressed that "a country the size of Brazil can't
buy a product from another country without technology
transfer."
A
Brazilian military expert who runs a specialist magazine
titled Defesanet, Nelson During, told AFP that Brazil's
decision should be known in October.
"The
air force should send its evaluation of the three
aircraft to the government on October 23 -- Day of
the Aviator -- indicating its choice. Then, the National
Defense Council should ratify that choice pretty quickly,"
he said.
Informed
sources though said that Sarkozy's visit which starts
Sunday and coincides with Brazil's Independence Day
celebrations, could precipitate the announcement of
the winning bid.
During
said France's big advantage in the competition "is
that it doesn't put restrictions on its technology
-- it gives everything."
That
appeared to contrast with the offers from Boeing and
Saab.
The
US company is subject to congressional oversight for
defense technology exports -- something Brazil has
run up against several times in the past, to its annoyance.
Saab's
Gripen, while praised as a relatively cheap and versatile
option, relies on outside contractors for some of
its most essential equipment -- such as the US giant
General Electric for the engine, and Italy's Selex
for the combat radar. That could limit what technology
it could ultimately transfer.
Brazil's
aim is to not just buy aircraft off-the-shelf, but
to use the purchase to boost its ambitions of becoming
one of the 21st century's great powers.
Lula
said Brazil's increasing clout on the world stage,
and its natural resources in the Amazon and in offshore
oil fields, required a defense industry to match.
For
During, the essential criteria in the jet fighter
bid were: How much technology will be transferred?
What will Brazilian industry get out of it? What are
Brazil's long-term geo-political goals?
"We
already have a deal with France. Should we reinforce
it? If we negotiate with the US, will we be forced
to toe the line on its policies? Are there advantages
to negotiating with the Swedes? These are the questions
on Brazil's side," he said.
The
price per plane -- one of the criticisms of the Rafale
by its rival bidders -- "is not fundamental,"
During said.
"It's
the operating cost that counts. The cost per hour
of flight, of maintenance, of the electronics. We
are a poor country and all this has to last for the
next 30 years."
He
added: "The Rafale is not the most expensive
offer in terms of operating cost. That's the F/A-18."
Sarkozy
is already set to sign a couple of other defense deals
with Brazil during his stay.
They
will confirm previously announced agreements for Brazil
to buy 50 of Eurocopter's EC-725 troop transport helicopters,
and the purchase of five submarines, one of which
will be adapted by the Brazilians to run on nuclear
energy.
"The
submarines are the defense shield for the deepwater
oil fields," which could contain up to 50 billion
barrels of oil, During said.
A
special navy base will be built in Rio de Janeiro
for the submarines
|
President
Luiz Inácio and Defense Minister Jobim
hear Jean-Marc Merialdo from Rafale International
at LAAD 2009 past April in Rio de janeiro |
