Breaking news
Brazil military could buy over 100 SAAB's Gripen multirole combat aircraft.
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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Brazil |
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| Brazilian military could buy over 100 SAAB's Gripen multirole combat aircraft | |||
According
to the Wall Street Journal, Saab AB’s deal to sell Gripen NG jets
to Brazil could more than triple to eventually include the purchase of
over 100 aircraft before the country has satisfied its demand for combat
planes, a senior Brazilian military officer said Tuesday, November 18. |
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SAAB last month sealed deal with Brazil for an initial 36 Gripen
NG multirole combat aircraft |
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Brazil’s
Air Force plans to field “at least” 108 Gripen
aircraft to make it the sole combat jet in the service’s inventory,
Brig. José Augusto Crepaldi Affonso, the head of programs at the
Brazilian Air Force said.
Brazil’s total purchase of Gripen jets could eventually grow further. The country is evaluating whether to use a derivative of the plane for aircraft-carrier operations. The ship-based version of the aircraft, called the Sea Gripen, would still have to be developed. Saab last month sealed a $5.4 billion deal with Brazil for an initial 36 jets after last year beating the Boeing Co. F/A-18E/F and French Rafale built by Dassault Aviation SA in fierce competition. Saab has teamed with Embraer to develop and build the single-engine fighter aircraft. At least 15 of the first 36 jets will be assembled in Brazil. Deliveries of the initial group of jets to the Brazilian Air Force would take place from 2019 to 2024. Follow-on deliveries could extend production past 2030, Brig. Crepaldi told DefenceIQ’s annual International Fighter conference. The decision by Brazil and Sweden to commit to buying Gripen NG jets has made Saab one of the few western fighter-jet makers to be assured combat jet production will continue past 2020. |
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