SANTIAGO, Chile, June 5 (UPI)
European defense consortium EADS is seeking a greater presence in Latin American markets for aviation and defense equipment with a new partnership in Chile.
The EADS entry follows similar endeavors by Boeing, France's Dassault Aviation, Sweden's Saab and other European, Israeli and Asian manufacturers who see Latin America as a major growth area for defense acquisitions.
One major contract in immediate sight of the rival manufacturers is Brazil's FX-2 jet fighter replacement program worth up to $8 billion-$9 billion. EADS lags behind Dassault, Boeing and Saab in the competition to win a lucrative defense contract for the supply of up to 36 fighter aircraft.
Brazil is looking to replace obsolete fighter aircraft, including French Mirage jets, at the high end of its air force inventory as part of the so-called FX-2 fighter competition.
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