Brazil’s defense minister says he favors French fighter jet for country’s air force

Brazil defense minister favors French fighter jet

BRASILIA, Brazil — The defense minister said Wednesday he favors the purchase of a French fighter jet for Brazil’s revamped air force over aircraft from Sweden and the United States in the competition for an estimated $4.4 billion order.

The Rafale jet from Dassault is competing against Sweden’s Gripen NG from Saab AB and U.S.-based Boeing Co.’s F-18 Super Hornet.

Nelson Jobim told a congressional commission that the bid from Dassault, while the most expensive of the three, better meets Brazil’s national defense strategy, which requires a complete transfer of technology in the purchase of military equipment.

The French government has guaranteed to make that transfer and has acceded to Brazil’s request to sell the planes to other Latin American countries, Jobim said. Brazil intends to build the aircraft on its own soil.

The U.S. government only authorizes the full transfer of technology in some cases, while the Swedish plane is composed of parts made in other countries, each of which would have to approve the transfer, he said.

The major sticking point with the French bid is the price, which French President Nicolas Sarkozy has pledged to reduce by 10 percent, Jobim said. But he added that Dassault only offered a reduction of a little more than 1 percent in its bid.

He added that all three models rated equally in their ability to safeguard Brazil’s airspace.

Brazil is looking to modernize its air force and replace its current Mirage 2000, F-5M and A-1M fleet.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said he will choose the company from which to purchase the 36 jets based on what is best militarily, economically and politically for Brazil. He announced no timetable for making a decision.