Since the 2000s, marked by the sale of fifty Super Cougar maneuvering helicopters and that of four Scorpène submarines, the French arms industry has been struggling in Brazil.
Thus, the Brazilian Air Force [Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB] preferred the JAS-39 Gripen E/F from Swedish Saab to the Rafale from Dassault Aviation, under conditions which have given rise to much controversy.
More recently, the CAESAr [Camion équipé d’un système d’artillerie] of KNDS France lost a call for tenders launched by the Brazilian army [Exército Brasileiro] to procure thirty-six self-propelled howitzers, the latter having chosen the ATMOS 2000 from the Israeli group Elbit Systems. However, the acquisition procedure has not yet been finalized due to political and judicial considerations.
However, the French side does not despair… And it intends to take advantage of the next G20 summit, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, on November 18 and 19, to push its pawns. At least, that's what Brazilian journalist Claudio Dantas says.
Indeed, according to its information, Paris would have offered to sell fifty H145 helicopters to Brasilia. [proposés par Airbus Helicopters]thirty-six CAESAr, a fifth Scorpène and… twenty-four Rafale. In addition, a transfer of technology concerning the boiler room of the nuclear attack submarine [SNA] desired by the Brazilian Navy [Marinha do Brasil] under the Prosub program is still on the table. As a reminder, it was mentioned by President Macron during an official visit to Brazil last March.
As a reminder, on this occasion, the tenant of the Élysée called for significantly strengthening cooperation between France and Brazil in the military field.
“I want us, alongside you, to be able to continue the fantastic work that has been carried out in the production of helicopters. Let us also look at other fields, from combat turrets to satellites and space, which must be, here too, an instrument of concrete cooperation. […] We also have to build technological cooperation here […] for the interest of our countries”, declared Mr. Macron, during the launch of the Toneloro, the third Scorpene-type submarine of the Marinha do Brasil.
And to insist: “And who knows? Beyond these submarines, to have other equipment and to perhaps have, to celebrate in a few years, the nuclear-powered submarine that you will have built […]have Rafales which will pass tomorrow because we will also, on this subject, have been able to build new cooperation.”
In any case, what is certain is that Força Aérea Brasileira wishes to acquire additional combat aircraft in order to complete its fleet of J-39 Gripen E/F [70 exemplaires prévus, au total]. These aircraft would replace part of its F-5 Tiger II as well as its AMX light fighters, i.e. around forty aircraft in total.
However, other countries are eyeing this market. This is the case of India, which is offering the HAL Tejas, weighing in the balance a possible massive purchase of C-390 “Millenium” transport planes from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. It is also that of Italy, which, on the occasion of the G20, should submit a proposal relating to the sale of thirty M346 “Masters”, a light fighter developed by Leonardo. Finally, the T-7A Red Hawk, produced by Boeing and Saab, would also be in the running.
