Paul Lewis/RIO DE JANEIRO
Latin American interest in beyond visual range (BVR) missiles is picking up with Chile integrating the Rafael Derby onto its upgraded Northrop Grumman F-5E/F Tiger IVs and Brazil expected to release a request for proposals to give its improvedF-5BR fighter a similar capability.
Peru is the only Latin American nation to field a BVR weapon, with its Vympel R-77 (AA-12 Adder) missile purchase to arm its RSKMiG-29SE Fulcrums. It emerged at the LAD show in Rio de Janeiro last week that Peru's move is pushing Brazil and Chile to seek BVRs, but options are confined to French, Israeli and South African missiles. The US Government refuses to clear the Raytheon AIM-120 AM-RAAM for Latin American sale.
Brazil has a requirement for an active-guided BVR missile to arm its F-5BRs - the first of which is being upgraded - to give it an interim capability ahead of service entry of the yet to be selected F-X fighter. The weapon options Brazil is expected to consider are the Matra BAe Dynamics Mica and the Denel Kentron R-Darter, which the South African manufacturer claims is already integrated with a similarly upgraded F-5E/F.
The R-Darter is believed to be broadly based on the Israeli Derby missile, a radar-guided evolution of the short-range, imaging infrared-guided Rafael Python 4. The Chilean air force, an acknowledged Python 4 user, is understood to have integrated the Derby with its Israeli-upgraded F-5E/F Tiger IVs, but it is unclear whether missiles have been purchased.
Chile wants AMRAAM as part of its planned Lockheed MartinF-16C/D order. In the absence of Washington releasing the weapon, the fighters will be fitted for, but not equipped with, the missile. An alternative is the Derby/R-Darter.
Brazil is expected to include a BVR missile as part of its F-X requirement, with Boeing and Lockheed Martin planning to offer the F/A-18E/F and F-16C/D respectively. Saab BAE Systems has included R-Darter with its Gripen offer, while France will pitch the Mica-equipped Mirage 2000BR. Sukhoi will offer the Su-30MK/R-77 combination.
Source: Flight International
