Boeing [BA] said recently it will provide a full transfer of technology to Brazil if the U.S.-based company wins a $5 billion fighter-jet bid, according to the Associated Press.
President of Boeing Military Aircraft Chris Chadwick said that Brazil would be able to fully produce the F-18 Super Hornet if it purchases the planes from Boeing in a public hearing organized by the National Defense Committee of the Brazilian Senate to discuss the fighter’s capabilities and how it meets the Brazilian Air Force’s requirements.
The announcement came during a showcase of its fighter led by its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business unit inside the National Congress Building in Brasília (Defense Daily, Aug. 16).
Chadwick said Thursday that President Barack Obama had already made the guarantees to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, the AP added.
Earlier this month, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Brazil of 28 F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, eight F/A-18Fs, 72 F414-General Electric [GE]-400 installed engines, a host of spare parts and munitions at an estimated value of $7 billion (Defense Daily, Aug. 10).
The notification was being done in advance of an expected announcement by Brazil as part of its F-X2 fighter competition, so that if the U.S. Navy-Boeing proposal is selected, the United States might move forward as quickly as possible.
Boeing received a Request For Information from Brazil on June 12, 2008. The stated initial requirement was for 36 aircraft, with the potential for up to 120 aircraft (Defense Daily, Aug. 19).
The technology transfer is a key issue for Brazil, which also is reviewing bids from Sweden’s Saab and France’s Dassault. Saab is pitching the Gripen NG fighter jet, while Dassault the Rafale jet, the AP wrote.