SAO PAULO, Sept. 27 (UPI)

Brazil's submarine development and construction project is filtering down to local manufacturers who hope to capitalize on the program's growing appetite for local expertise and component production.

The Brazilian defense market is valued at $38.27 billion this year, said ReportLinker's study, "The Brazilian Defense Industry: Market Opportunities and Entry Strategies, Analyses and Forecasts to 2017."

The report predicts Brazil will spend at least $2.87 billion on the procurement of military hardware and software, training, pension payments, maintenance, repair and overhaul.

The submarine project is a key element, compared only with the Brazilian air force's FX-2 jet fighter acquisition program. The FX-2 program hasn't moved forward while the government of President Dilma Rousseff weighs defense expenditure originally set out by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Last month Rousseff unveiled plans to create a state-owned company to oversee production of the country's first nuclear submarine.

The Blue Amazon Defense Technologies or Amazul will be in charge of "promoting, developing, absorbing, transferring and maintaining" technologies needed for Brazil's nuclear program and nuclear power-related activities of the Brazilian navy, officials said.

Amazul will oversee the construction of Brazil's first nuclear-powered submarine, under way in Itaguai, Rio de Janeiro state.

Rousseff indicated Amazul's brief will be wider and will include creation of new businesses in Brazil's nuclear sector, likely to be concentrated around Sao Paolo, Brazil's largest city.

Amazul will have its headquarters in Sao Paolo.

In 2008, Brazil and France signed an agreement to build four diesel-electric submarines also known as SSK, and provide assistance in developing and fielding the non-nuclear parts of the one planned nuclear fast attack submarine.

Key specifics, such as the presence or absence of SSK air independent propulsion technologies, have yet to be made public, but the terms of the agreement leave the possibility open, Defense Industry Daily said on its website. Reports regarding the submarine deal's value have varied but are likely to exceed $5 billion.

Financing now appears to be in place, and recent releases explain the budgets, the timing and some of the key players in Brazil's Prosub program.

Least reported is the effect of the program on Brazilian defense industries big and small. The rise of Embraer as a major aviation and defense player has already spawned a series of small- to medium-scale defense industries catering for the rising demand for components.

Foreign defense manufacturers, drawn to competitive Brazilian prices, have been looking closely at the mushrooming components and parts industries. Brazilian parts manufacturers have been at pains to market their inventories are being more reliable than counterfeit Chinese spares known to be flooding the market.

Buenos Aires (UPI) Sep 25, 2012 Spacewar.com

Argentina and Venezuela will collaborate to build a trainer jet for deployment in member countries of the Union of South American States, officials said.

Unasur became operational in 2011 after more than two years of preparations and aims to become a defense and economic pact to the exclusion of North American states Canada and the United States.

Loosely modeled on the European Union, Unasur also aims to replace other regional organizations including Mercosur and the Organization of American States, which has headquarters in Washington.

Plans for extensive multi-faceted cooperation between the 12 member states have snagged on differences over existing regional trade organizations Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations.

Unasur has a combined population of more than 396 million in Central and South America.

Even after the statement over the planned joint trainer jet project it was unclear if regional aviation giant Embraer of Brazil would play any role in the making of the plane.

Defense analysts said current plans focused on Argentina drawing state funding from Venezuela as part of its strategy to revive its defense industry.

The joint defense deal followed negotiations between Argentine officials and a Venezuelan military delegation following up on agreements signed in July.

Senior Argentine officials said the joint jet trainer project aimed to kick-start regional defense cooperation, touted for several years regional leaders but not implemented.

Officials say the joint trainer project will aim to harmonize armed forces training programs and operations. However, Brazil's absence from the plans is likely to slow progress.

Alongside the trainer aircraft there are plans afoot to explore joint production of a light armored transport vehicle tank likely to be deployed in border security operations, missiles and various naval vessels.

Argentine defense industry has suffered through several decades of neglect that coincided with the return to democratic rule. Successive elected governments veered away from defense modernization because of the military's past association with Argentine dictatorships.

Until the 1960s Argentina was well on way to becoming a significant aircraft manufacturer but a U.S. arms embargo in response to the dictators' human rights abuses led to a decline in defense production. Subsequent privatizations of defense plants extinguished what remained of defense production.

A government review of the country's neglected defense industry led to the reopening of several plants that had been abandoned. A new emphasis on technological transfer partnerships with foreign suppliers has focused on developing electronics and avionics capacity.

Sep 26, 2012 ASDNews Source : Eurocopter

Eurocopter delivered the first of two EC145s to the Bolivian Air Force last August, during an official ceremony attended by the Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma and the High Command of the Bolivian Armed Forces and the Bolivian Air Force. These helicopters will be used for government officials’ transportation and to provide support in the event of natural disasters and emergencies.

Eurocopter’s relationship with the Bolivian Air Force dates back to the 1970s with the Lama and Alouette helicopters, renowned for their excellent performance in conditions of extreme altitude and temperatures which made them ideal for operations in Bolivia’s high plateau region. In 2009 they were replaced by the Ecureuil/Astar AS350 B3, which earned its place in aviation history in 2005 for touching down and taking off from the summit of Mount Everest.

In 2011, the Bolivian Air Force ordered two new twin-engine EC145s to further modernize its fleet. This new helicopter, which is highly versatile thanks to its superior safety standards, will be used for VIP transportation and to provide support during natural disasters, rescue missions, fire-fighting, MEDEVAC and parapublic missions, among others.

“We are honored to deliver this aircraft to the Plurinational State of Bolivia, one of the first countries in the region to purchase and operate this powerful helicopter,” said Alexandre Ceccacci, CEO of Eurocopter Cono Sur. “This purchase paves the way for the introduction in Bolivia of new twin-engine helicopters with greater capacity.”

Eurocopter has delivered more than 500 EC145s to some 100 customers in 38 countries. It is the helicopter of choice in the medium-size twin-engine category in view of its flexibility and versatility. This rotary-wing aircraft is renowned worldwide for police and public service missions and operations in conditions of extreme altitude and temperature. Its capacity of up to 10 passengers and an extensive range of cutting-edge optional equipment ensure outstanding performance in a wide array of missions, including onshore and offshore airlift for the oil & gas industries, emergency medical services, police and public services, as well as business and VIP transportation.

25/09/2012 latribune.fr

Selon Reuters, le Brésil devrait à nouveau reporter sa décision sur la sélection d'un avion de combat en vue de renouveler sa flotte. Le F-18 de Boeing reviendrait dans la course face au Rafale (Dassault Aviation) et au Gripen (Saab).

Le Brésil ne prendra pas de décision avant mi-2013 au sujet du renouvellement de sa flotte d'avions de chasse, un contrat évalué à au moins quatre milliards de dollars (3 milliards d'euros), ont déclaré deux responsables à Reuters. La présidente de la République du Brésil, Dilma Rousseff, choisira elle-même le constructeur qui équipera l'armée de l'air brésilienne avec 36 nouveaux appareils. Elle pourrait informer le président américain Barack Obama de ce report en marge de l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, qui s'ouvre mardi à New York. La décision a été reportée en raison notamment de contraintes budgétaires, a dit l'une des sources.

"Le débat (interne) porte désormais sur des points plus précis et je pense que nous approchons d'une décision", a dit ce responsable. "Mais elle ne sera pas annoncée en 2012". En février, Dilma Rousseff avait une préférence pour le Rafale de Dassault Aviation, selon Reuters. Cependant, de nouvelles incertitudes ont surgi en raison du coût de cet appareil et surtout des conditions des transferts de technologie, facteur essentiel dans la décision de Dilma Rousseff, ont dit les responsables, s'exprimant sous le sceau de l'anonymat. Le Brésil exige un transfert de technologie total pour construire sur place l'appareil, avec la possibilité de le vendre ensuite sur le marché régional.

Boeing, le come-back ?

En outre, Boeing a marqué des points dans le même temps en annonçant une série de partenariats avec le constructeur brésilien Embraer. En février, le groupe américain avait gelé ses tarifs depuis son offre initiale en 2009, ce qui devrait accroître l'avantage de son F-18 sur le Rafale en terme de prix, même si on ignore le coût unitaire des deux appareils dans le cadre de cet appel d'offres. "Boeing semble assurément aller mieux depuis quelques mois", a dit le deuxième responsable.

L'armée de l'air brésilienne demande tous les six mois aux concurrents de renouveler leur intérêt pour l'appel d'offre. Le dernier en date s'achevait le 30 juin, l'actuel courrait jusqu'à la fin de l'année. ce serait la cinquième prorogation del'appel d'offre pour une durée de six mois, si l'information était confirmée.

24 Sep 2012 by Arie Egozi - FG

September 22, 2012: Strategy Page

Brazil recently ordered more ($43 million worth) Norwegian Penguin anti-ship missiles for use by their navy helicopters. Four years ago Brazil bought a dozen Penguins and were sufficiently satisfied with the missile that they bought 40 more. The Penguin weighs 370 kg (814 pounds) and has a range of 55 kilometers. The Penguin has been in service since 1973, and has been constantly upgraded. The current version costs about a million dollars each. The missile has been exported to many countries, including the United States, and is carried by F-16s, various types of helicopters, and small warships.

18 September 2012 airforce-technology.com

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has signed a contract with Embraer Defense and Security for logistics support and services for its fleet of 24 ERJ-145 jet aircraft.

Signed as part of the Embraer Support Solution for the Government (ESSG) programme, the contract has a maximum potential value of $130m, and comprises a $98m firm award for routine logistical support and an additional $32m for optional services.

Under the terms of contract, the company will deliver a range of services such as material support, repair management, maintenance technical control, engineering support, and field technical support, in addition to maintenance services for the air force.

The ERJ-145, ERJ-135, Legacy 600, EMB-145 RS aircraft and the airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system family of aircraft, are all covered by the contract.

Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Embraer Defense and Security COO and Operations senior vice-president, said: "We are convinced that the ESSG Program will contribute for a more efficient and economical management of FAB´s fleet."

Paulo Joao Cury, FAB Aeronautic and War Materials Department director major brigadier, said the order marks a great achievement for the development of the national defence industry, as evident by the experience and quality of Embraer services.

"The ESSG Program allows the Air Force to meet its institutional objectives, including national territorial defense, with high performance and availability," Cury added.

Featuring a flat rate and defined performance requirements, the ESSG represents an integrated solution aimed at enhancing fleet availability and operational readiness, eliminating financial risk for the customer.

The programme uses a centralised management to enable FAB significantly lower operational and support cost, by supporting long term planning, integration of global partners and suppliers' network, and also providing clear definition of deadlines for parts supply.

17 September 2012 army-technology.com

Elbit Systems Brazilian subsidiary AEL Sistemas has received an initial production contract for the delivery of unmanned turrets for the country's army's VBTP-MR Guarani armoured personnel carrier (APCs).

The $15m deal forms part of a R$440m ($260m) framework contract secured by the company in January 2011 for the supply of 30mm cannon-equipped UT30 BR unmanned turrets to the Brazilian Army's land forces, as part of the Guarani project.

Under the contract terms, the company will supply an unspecified number of unmanned turrets for integration into a batch of Iveco-built 6×6 Guarani vehicles, scheduled for completion in the next two years.

The first UT30 BR turret under the previous contract was received and installed aboard Guarani APC by the army following customer acceptance tests in September 2011, which involved validation of the turret's operational functions, as well as its firing capabilities at static and moving targets.

Featuring a sensor package and a 30mm gun, the UT-30 is a dual-axis stabilised unmanned turret capable of converting an APC into an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) without deck penetration.

The turret is also equipped with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, a laser warning system (LWS), commander panoramic sight and smoke grenade launchers, as well as an automatic target tracker.

Developed jointly by Iveco and Brazilian Army, the Guarani is a 6x6 wheeled drive amphibious machine designed to replace the country's fleet of ageing EE-11 Urutu and Cascavel armoured fighting vehicles by 2015.

Iveco had received a R$240m ($118.7m) order for development and delivery of an initial batch of 86 VBTP-MR vehicles to the army in August 2012.

Overall, the army is planning to acquire approximately 2,044 Guaranis in the next 20 years to enable restructuring of its mechanised forces.

September 13, 2012 defpro.com

KONGSBERG has signed a contract with the Brazilian Navy for the delivery of Penguin anti-ship missiles and associated equipment valued EUR 33 million.

The missiles will be deployed on the Brazilian Navy's new maritime helicopters.

THE PENGUIN ANTI-SHIP MISSILE

Penguin is the world's leading anti-ship missile on naval helicopters. The Penguin became the first anti-ship cruise missile developed in the western world, it has been continuously updated and is today an advanced all-digital guided weapon system with numerous selectable flight profiles and trajectories.

The missile is designed for use in the littorals as well as on open sea.

The ship-launched version of Penguin is operational on board small and medium sized ships of different navies. The helicopter launched Penguin is operational with several nations and is integrated to different types of helicopters.

The combination of covert targeting, passive flight path and selectable waypoint manoeuvres makes the Penguin an effective weapon against most surface combatants.

The Penguin missile is a state of the art, highly effective weapon with an accurate navigation system and sophisticated passive infra-red homing array. This ensures its ability to operate in close proximity to land whilst being immune to all known radar countermeasures, IR-decoys and jamming.

Penguin has been developed to meet the complex operating environment encountered in the Norwegian littorals, notably in their ability to navigate through archipelagos and across terrain, and in their deployment of highly discriminative passive target homing technology.

The Penguin has been selected and is operational on ships and helicopters in Norway and seven other navies around the world. Many nations have expressed serious interest for the missile.

SANTIAGO, Chile, Sept. 13 (UPI)

Chile is in talks with the Netherlands to purchase eight Cougar helicopters that are likely to be reconditioned and upgraded to form part of an air cavalry brigade.

The Latin American country has been seeking to modernize its armed forces and its military arsenal but is hamstrung by funding constraints and, in some cases, political barriers to what the forces' commanders want to buy.

The Cougars are part of a Dutch armed forces armada that is targeted for a drawdown. Officials in the Netherlands have said the military's need for cash is behind the decision to run down the current inventory, which they see as excessive to need in peace time.

The Cougar is the Eurocopter's AS532 version, a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose aircraft developed by France and built by Eurocopter and Turkish Aerospace Industries.

The AS532 is an upgrade of the Aerospatiale Puma in its militarized form and has been superseded by the Eurocopter EC725.

The secondhand helicopters meet an immediate challenge for Chile, which is aiming to upgrade its armed forces' equipment as economically and fast as possible.

The Cougars' availability appeared as the Dutch announced a controversial decision to sell some military equipment. The move was hotly contested in the Netherlands.

Chile's medium-term plan is to create an air cavalry brigade to meet challenges to national security posed by drug overlords and their collaborators in underground movements.

The eight helicopters will join a fleet up to 30 helicopters that will form part of a planned air cavalry brigade. Current plans call for a carefully chosen force of up to 1,200 elite officers and troops, El Periodista news website said.

The special brigade will likely be deployed both in tactical transport and in attack missions.

Discussion on the military procurement program for the cavalry brigade has wavered between securing the most cost-effective solution and building a seamless operation with compatible hardware.

Some military commanders backed the idea of having all helicopters from the same manufacturer but cost considerations kept getting in the way.

Chilean army commander Gen. Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba said he favored a standardized helicopter force from a single manufacturer but that doesn't seem to be happening.

Support is also growing for a better-equipped Chilean army with its own air support backup.

El Periodista said the army wants to enhance its fixed-wing capabilities and is seriously considering three to five Spartan C27J twin-engine light transport aircraft for its inventory. The aircraft costs about $53 million and is manufactured by Alenia Aeronautica of Italy.

Sep 11, 2012 ASDNews Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract to supply the hybrid global positioning system (GPS) and inertial reference system for the Embraer Defense and Security KC-390 medium-lift military transport aircraft.

Under the contract, the company's German navigation systems subsidiary, Northrop Grumman LITEF, will provide the fibre-optic, gyro-compass LCR-100 Attitude and Heading Reference System. The system will be used on Embraer's new fly-by-wire KC-390 aircraft, which is anticipated to have the first flight in 2014.

"The LCR-100 gyro-compass brings efficiencies, savings and safety to Embraer's KC-390 military transport aircraft," said Eckehardt Keip, managing director for Northrop Grumman LITEF. "This system will meet the exacting standards Embraer sets for its new aircraft."

The LCR-100 is a high-performing inertial reference system that provides navigation information regarding the aircraft's position, heading and attitude. The gyro-compass feature eliminates the need for a magnetic sensing unit. Additionally, the system offers extended coasting performance that allows the aircraft to maintain accuracy and continue to provide navigation information in the event of GPS signal loss.

Northrop Grumman LITEF is a leading supplier of inertial sensors, inertial reference, and inertial navigation systems and computers with products deployed in more than 30 countries in aircraft, marine vessels and ground mobile applications. The company has more than 15,000 fibre-optic gyro systems serving in aircraft worldwide.

The KC-390 is a Brazilian air force project that is anticipated to set new standards in the medium-lift military transport market for performance, cargo capacity, flexibility and life cycle costs. In addition to troop and cargo transportation, the aircraft will be capable of in-flight refueling, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

12 September 2012 airforce-technology.com

Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) has received a contract from Embraer Defense & Security to supply airborne transceivers for the Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) KC-390 tanker aircraft development programme.

R&S will deliver an undisclosed number of M3AR software defined very high frequency/ultra high frequency (VHF/UHF) airborne transceivers to Embraer for integration into the KC-390 tanker.

Each KC-390 aircraft is expected to be installed with two advanced R&S M3AR radios, which feature frequency hopping and encryption capabilities.

The R&S M3AR is a multiband, multirole radio designed to enable secure transmission of mission-critical information between jet or propeller aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a frequency range from 30MHz to 400MHz.

The multimode radio is capable of serving as a form, fit and function (F3) replacement for traditional AN/ARC-164 radios, and is remotely controlled by using a MIL-STD-1553B data bus or the R&S GB6500 control unit.

The first R&S M3AR radio for KC-390 prototype development is scheduled for delivery by 2013.

Over 6,000 R&S M3AR radios have been delivered by the company to customers worldwide for integration into various aircraft types, including the A400M, Eurofighter Typhoon, NH90, Tiger and F16 fighter aircraft.

The FAB has ordered a total of 28 KC-390s from Embraer under a $1.3bn deal in April 2009, to help replace its current fleet of 22 Lockheed Martin-built C-130E/Hs and KC-130 aircraft.

The KC-390 is a twin-engine, medium-lift military transport aircraft designed to conduct troop and cargo transport in Antarctica and Amazon regions, as well as aerial delivery, in-flight refuelling, search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations.

The first flight of the KC-390 is expected to take place in 2014, followed by entry into operational service in 2016.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 10 (UPI)

Brazil's increased defense and security needs have prompted the country's armed forces to consider deploying more of the U.S. Black Hawk helicopters on humanitarian and military missions in the Amazon and beyond.

A modified S-70 variant of Sikorsky's HH-60 'Pave Hawk' search and rescue helicopter seems to be carving out its own niche in Brazil, Defense Industry Daily reported on its Web site.

The Pave Hawk is an extensively modified version of Black Hawk used primarily by the U.S. Air Force and South Korea's armed forces.

The twin turboshaft engine helicopter incorporates the U.S. Air Force PAVE electronic systems program but it's not clear if the software and hardware supplied to Brazil includes all the elements deployed by U.S. forces.

The helicopter, part of Sikorsky's S-70 family, comprises a much smaller fleet in Brazil than Bell and Eurocopter models that make up a greater part of the Brazilian military inventory.

The price of individual units was not mentioned but industry sources said each helicopter could cost up to $15.8 million.

Brazil has also not confirmed the number of additional helicopters it plans to deploy in its forces and the numbers of the two versions likely to be in use in the long term.

The MH-60G Pave Hawk is primarily used for the recovery of special operations personnel, while the HH-60G Pave Hawk is usually assigned to wartime duties such as recovery of personnel under stressful conditions, and search and rescue.

Both versions are also known to be extremely versatile in day or night operations in hostile environments.

The report follows news media reports that Brazilian armed forces have embarked on a multibillion-dollar defense diversification and upgrade program. Brazilian armed forces want to increase their presence in the Amazonian region, where the government has faced drug and people smuggling and, occasionally, spillover of guerrilla activity in neighboring countries.

Sikorsky said it received a $10.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification "to procure aircraft for the Brazilian air force in support of Foreign Military Sales."

Work will be performed at facilities at the company's headquarters in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of February 2014, Sikorsky said.

Black Hawk variants, including naval derivatives, are in use or on order by other countries in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. More than 2,400 helicopters of various versions of Hawk have been delivered to armed forces worldwide.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2012/09/10/Brazil-poised-to-use-more-Black-Hawks/UPI-25631347322228/#ixzz267ZHk6W5