Brazil Blasts US and Casts Doubt It Will Buy American Fighter Planes

Nelson Jobim Brazilian Defense minister, Nelson Jobim, told reporters this Friday, November 6, that the dispute between the US, France and Sweden to sell 36 fighter planes to the Brazilian Air Force is still going on and it's very strong.

He then went on to say he didn't want to create a controversy with any comment that might be seen favoring any of the countries and companies involved. But he didn't spare the United States.

"I will not get into a fight of companies," Jobim said after visiting the Cetex (Army's Technological Center), in Rio de Janeiro's west side.

According to the minister, the most controversial matter among the suppliers is the technology transfer issue and he emphasized that, in this area, the United States doesn't a have a favorable history.

"The trouble with the United States," he stated, "are past issues. The past is a big example of technology transfer embargo. We experience this here today at the Cetex."

Jobim revealed that during his visit to the technological center he heard reports by military men stating that American companies would supply technology for the finishing of military equipments, such as batteries and propellers, only in ten years.

The difficulty to formalize technology transfer deals, according to Jobim, is a problem for several countries. "This is part of the game," he commented. "All countries of the world don't want the others to develop technologically. But Brazil is going to develop itself."

Brazil's  Defense ministry intends to announce the winner of the bid to purchase the 36 fighter planes until the end of year. The Air Force is still evaluating the received proposals. The competitors are the Rafale fighter planes, from French company Dassault; the F/A-18 Super Hornet, from US company Boeing and Gripen NG, from Swedish company Saab.

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil’s Lula Appeals for Haiti and Africa in Paris

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appealed to the international community to help ...

Brazil Vows to Double Per Capita Income by 2022 to US$ 22,000

Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, said that the government intends to double per ...

Brazil Flexes Its Mighty Muscles at Abribusiness Congress

The 4th Brazilian Agribusiness Congress, to discuss the tendencies of world agribusiness, has begun ...

Agriculture Represents 36% of All Brazilian Exports

2008 was excellent for Brazil in foreign trade of agribusiness products. Sector exports reached ...

England Wants to Partner with Brazil to Make Ethanol in Africa

European governments are interested in financing the production of ethanol with Brazilian technology in ...

Country of Rubinhos

The past few decades were foot-on-the-brake times due to decisions made abroad and middle- ...

Coffee Growing Is Three-Year College Course in Brazil

Since August last year there is in the city of Machado, in southeastern Brazilian ...

IBM Opens in Brazil LatAm’s First Mainframe Software Center

US-based IBM has opened a mainframe software competency center in São Paulo, Brazil, enabling ...

Our Future Is Now

While the US has no guts to go after the real terrorists, the Saudis, ...

Brazil Doubles Investments in Railroads, But Problems Abound

Between 2001 and 2004 there was a significant increase in investments in Brazilian railroads, ...