Article Posted on : - Feb 24, 2011

French Rafale, one of the bidders for the deal.

BRASILIA (BNS): Brazil will not take any hasty decision on the acquisition of new fighter aircraft for its air force, the country's Defence Minister has said.

“President (Dilma) Rousseff will decide on the acquisition of fighter jets for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) at the right time,” Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said Tuesday.

The Minister said that the current restrictions, resulting from cuts in the federal budget, left “no room for a short-term decision about the project FX-2.”

Jobim, who made the remarks during a meeting with a French Minister at the Ministry headquarters in Brasilia, said that the Defence Ministry has already sent a report to President Rousseff stating its technical position as well as those of the commanders of the Air Force and Navy directly involved in the acquisition of fighter aircraft.

The Brazilian Air Force is seeking to buy 36 new jet fighters having an initial value estimated at $4 billion to $7 billion.

Three fighters – France's Rafale, developed by Dassault, Sweden's Gripen NG produced by Saab, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet from US’ Boeing – are vying for the multi-billion dollar deal.

As per the contract, the winner of the deal will have to share its aircraft technology with Brazil, thus enhancing country's defence capabilities.