Brazil has backtracked on an apparent announcement on 7 September that it would enter final negotiations with the French government and Dassault to buy at least 36 Rafale F3 fighters.
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy jointly announced the Rafale's selection during ceremonies marking Brazil's Independence Day. The agreement included a commitment by France to buy "a dozen" Embraer KC-390J tanker-transports, although Brazilian officials later put the number at 10.
But the announcement seemed to catch the competitors for the FX-2 contract off-guard. Even Embraer, Brazil's largest aersospace company, was unable to publish a statement reacting to the news even two days after the announcement was made public.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim has issued a statement that appears to contradict Rafale's status as the only fighter selected to enter final negotiations on price. In fact, Brazil's air force will continue negotiating terms for the FX-2 contract with all three competitors in the final round, including Rafale, Saab JAS-39 Gripen and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Before the presidential announcement on Monday, the air force was scheduled to forward their recommendation for the FX-2 winner to Jobim's office later this week.
Jobim's statement affirms Sarkozy's pledge to commit French industry to help Embraer develop the KC-390J, conceived as a jet-powered rival to the Lockheed Martin C-130J.
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy jointly announced the Rafale's selection during ceremonies marking Brazil's Independence Day. The agreement included a commitment by France to buy "a dozen" Embraer KC-390
But the announcement seemed to catch the competitors for the FX-2 contract off-guard. Even Embraer, Brazil's largest aersospace company, was unable to publish a statement reacting to the news even two days after the announcement was made public.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim has issued a statement that appears to contradict Rafale's status as the only fighter selected to enter final negotiations on price. In fact, Brazil's air force will continue negotiating terms for the FX-2 contract with all three competitors in the final round, including Rafale, Saab JAS-39 Gripen and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Before the presidential announcement on Monday, the air force was scheduled to forward their recommendation for the FX-2 winner to Jobim's office later this week.
Jobim's statement affirms Sarkozy's pledge to commit French industry to help Embraer develop the KC-390
Recent Comments