After a four-year delay, the Brazilian senate has approved initial funding for the upgrade of the Brazilian air force's (FAB) Northrop F-5E/Fs.
Slated at nearly $250 million - of which reportedly $75 million is earmarked for Embraer - the programme covers 45 F-5Es and three two-seat F-5Fs. Modification work will be performed by Embraer.
Israel's Elbit, which was originally selected in October 1998, will be systems integrator. The deal ran into trouble in November 1999 when Brazil's attorney general appointed an investigator to review alleged tendering and programme irregularities.
Central to the upgrade are Elbit avionics and the replacement of the F-5's SEI APQ-153/159 radar with FIAR's multimode pulse-Doppler Grifo-F. Planning foresees single F-5E and F-5F testbeds but the funding delay has given rise to the possibility of a third prototype (an F-5E) to speed up the modernisation programme.
Also included in the upgrade are hands-on-throttle-and-stick cockpit controls, a radar warning receiver and an electronic countermeasures suite. The first F-5BR should be delivered in late 2004.
The upgrade might not be limited to the 48 F-5E/Fs in the FAB fleet. Because of the likely retirement of Dassault Mirage IIIEBRs in 2007, the Brazilian defence ministry is negotiating with Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Taiwan to acquire a further 20-24 F-5E/Fs.If the talks are successful, these fighters will also be converted to F-5BR standard.
Source: Flight International
