Article Posted on : - Apr 18, 2011

The F-5 jet fighter of Brazilian Air Force.

RIO DE JANEIRO (BNS): The Brazilian Air Force and Embraer have signed a contract to modernise 11 additional F-5 jet fighters.

The agreement is an extension of the contract signed in 2000 for the modernisation of a first batch of 46 F-5E. Of this total, 39 aircraft have been delivered and two are in process of collection.

Under the modernisation programme, the aircraft will receive an electronic warfare system of the latest generation, new avionics, in-flight refueling capability and increased operational capacity, and this will extend the useful life of the aircraft by at least another 15 years.

Embraer has scheduled the delivery of this second batch of upgraded jets for 2013.

The Brazilian Air Force has announced the contract in Rio de Janeiro, during the LAAD 2011 defence and aerospace exhibition.