Embraer expects a decision on Brazil's F-X fighter requirement in early August as it makes a final push to swing the deal in favour of the Dassault Mirage 2000BR, with an offer from MBDA to co-produce the aircraft's Mica beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile locally.
"For offset you have to consider not just commercial offset, but most importantly the relevance of the technology transfer involved. This is a process that is being evaluated in detail. I believe by the end of the month the president and the national defence council will have all the information required to make their decision," says Mauricio Botelho, Embraer chairman.
Embraer is fighting an uphill battle to convince the Brazilian air force to select the fighter in the face of strong support for the Sukhoi Su-35 and Saab/BAE Systems Gripen. The company, which plans to integrate new systems into the aircraft and assemble the fighter at its new Gaviao Peixoto plant, hopes the offer of French technology transfer will swing the deal at a political level.
MBDA has proposed the infrared- and active radar-guided Micas. The company has offered a range of technology transfer options depending on the number of missiles ordered and Brazil's willingness to invest in the programme and expand its local capabilities. Brazil also wants to arm its upgraded Northrop Grumman F-5BRs with the same BVR missile as the F-X. Embraer, teamed with Elbit, is upgrading 47 F-5s with the new avionics and the Fiar Grifo F multimode radar.
The Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM BVR missile is being offered with the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D, the Denel R-Darter with the Gripen and the Vympel RVV-AE (R-77/AA-12) with the Su-35 and RSK MiG-29.
Reports suggest the Israeli Rafael Derby, from which South Africa's R-Darter was derived, has been integrated with Chile's upgraded F-5s.
Source: Flight International
