April 18, 2011 - defense-aerospace.com

The Presentation to the Brazilian Navy Took Place on April 11 and Has the Full Support of the Spanish Government

(Source: Navantia; dated April 13, web-posted April 15, 2011)

(Issued in Spanish only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

Navantia, the leading Spanish shipbuilder, on April 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, filed an offer to the Brazilian Navy for the PROSUPER program. Navantia's proposal to the Brazilian Navy is based on two major strengths: proven ship designs for the three class of ships required by Brazil (frigates, OPVs and AOR), and extensive experience in technology transfer in countries such as Australia, India and Norway. In addition, Navantia, as a public company, has the full support of the Spanish Government, and in particular of the Ministry of Defense and the Spanish navy, which was set out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2010 between the Brazilian and the Spanish ministry of defence. Navantia has extensive knowledge and experience in the design and construction of naval vessels as well as of other complementary areas as propulsion, combat systems, platform control and life cycle support, which it is able to develop into comprehensive and risk-free proposal for the customer.

Additional information

- Navantia has developed over the last decade the most complex program of frigates, the F-100, equipped with the sophisticated AEGIS system. Four units are in service in the Spanish Navy and a fifth, already launched, will be delivered next year.

- Venezuela's navy in 2005 contracted Navantia to build 8 patrol boats, four of which are designed for coastal surveillance, and which have already been received by the Navy of Venezuela.

- Since July 2010, with the AOR "Cantabria" designed and built by Navantia, the Spanish Navy has the capability to provide operational logistics support to other ships while observing environmental regulatory requirements.

April 15, 2011 by Tony Skinner SHEPARD GROUP

The Brazilian Air Force's (FAB's) Mi-35M attack helicopters are proving themselves on anti-narcotic operations and the service is still hopeful additional numbers of the type will be procured. At the LAAD 2011 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro from 12 to 15 April, the air force displayed one of the six Mi-35Ms currently in service, which support counter-narcotics operations across the Amazon region. Service representatives said while there were some limitations to the aircraft’s performance due to the heat and humidity of the region, the Mi-35M had had a successful introduction into service and was operating at around 70% availability. ‘It is a very good helicopter for the type of missions we operate. In cooperation with other aircraft, we intercept all aircraft in the region, whether they are carrying drugs or not, and the Mi-35 is ideal for this,’ Capt Danilo said. He said the air force was also looking at integrating its operations more closely with the army, in line with the NATO model, and was considering how the Mi-35 could support ground troops. The FAB is procuring 12 of the aircraft with the next batch of three currently painted in Brazilian colours and awaiting delivery at the Rostvertol facility. The final three Mi-35Ms, which are known as the AH-2 Sabre in Brazilian service, will then be delivered by the end of 2011 or beginning of 2012. While the Russian Helicopters representatives at the exhibition would not be drawn on any ongoing negotiations for any follow-on order of Mi-35s for the FAB, service members said they were hopeful an additional 12 aircraft would be procured in the 2014 timeframe. Meanwhile, Russian Helicopters signed a number of cooperation agreements with Brazilian helicopter operators during LAAD 2011, in a significant expansion of the helicopter group’s presence in the country. On 15 April, the group announced it signed an agreement with Brazilian investment group Qualy Group Brasil for the joint promotion of the Mi-34C1 light helicopter. With an eye on the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016 in Brazil, the agreement provides for the possible delivery of 150 Mi-34C1 helicopters before 2023. A maintenance, logistics, and training centre will also be created for the aircraft. Other agreements during the show will provide for support centres in Brazil for the Mi-171A1 and Ka-32A11BC helicopters.

15 avril 2011 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

La Marine du Brésil négocie avec 6 pays — Allemagne, Corée du Sud, Espagne, France, Italie et Grande-Bretagne — la construction d’une série de 11 bâtiments dont le cout total pourrait atteindre 3,1 milliards €.

La marine brésilienne veut que ces bâtiments soient construits au Brésil, à partir d’un projet existant et déjà naviguant. L’idée est de constituer un partenariat stratégique entre le fournisseur étranger et un ou plus chantiers navals privés brésiliens, partenariat prévoyant un transfert de technologies. Alors que le lancement de l’appel d’offres est retardé par les difficultés budgétaires du ministère brésilien de la défense, certains avancent des propositions transitoires pour assurer les besoins de la marine. Alan Garwood, directeur du développement de BAE Systems, a proposé au ministre de la défense, Nelson Jobim, une frégate “multi-mission” de la Royal Navy comme solution temporaire, jusqu’à ce que le gouvernement brésilien lance l’appel d’offres pour les nouveaux bâtiments. Officiellement, la proposition a été présentée au ministre par le vice-ministre britannique à la Sécurité et la Stratégie Internationale, Gerald Howarth, lors de la 1ère journée de l’exposition LAAD 2011. Selon le quotidien Valor, le transfert des bâtiments britanniques pourrait être encore plus important : jusqu’à 4 frégates qui pourraient être intégrées à la marine brésilienne en remplacement de bâtiments trop vieux.

La marine du Brésil souhaite la construction de 5 patrouilleurs de 1.800 t, de 5 frégates de 6.000 t et d’un bâtiment de soutien logistique.

- les patrouilleurs couteraient environ 95 millions € chacun, avec une participation brésilienne supérieure à 60% ;

- les frégates devront avoir un niveau de contenu brésilien supérieur à 40%, avec un cout unitaire d’environ 500 millions € ;

- le bâtiment de soutien logistique, d’un déplacement de 13.000 t, devra avoir un niveau de participation locale de 55% et couterait 200 millions €.

La construction de ces différents bâtiments pourrait entrainer la création de 775 emplois directs et 3.100 indirects pour chaque bâtiment construit. La marine brésilienne n’a fait aucun commentaire sur l’effet qu’auront les réductions budgétaires annoncées, sur la construction de ces bâtiments. Une source proche du dossier indique que la marine brésilienne a besoin de ces navires à l’horizon 2016-2017. Olivier Michel, directeur commercial pour l’Amérique Latine de DCNS, a déclaré que l’entreprise publique était intéressée à participer à ce programme de construction. « Nous avons toutes les solutions répondant aux besoins exprimés par le Brésil, » a expliqué Michel. « DCNS a déjà signé des contrats avec la marine brésilienne pour la construction de sous-marins, avec la participation de la société brésilienne Odebrecht. »

Référence : Nuestro Mar (Argentine)

15/04/11 By Stephen Trimble Flight International

Brazilian interest in unmanned air systems has elevated suddenly from after-thought for most of the past decade to must-have, with a flock of new options from local companies. The abrupt shift has forced native and international industry to scramble to claim pole position ahead of an expected surge in orders. Brazil’s largest aerospace manufacturer, Embraer, has made perhaps the boldest move, forming a joint venture with Elbit Systems-owned Aeroelectronica (AEL) to propose a modified Elbit Hermes 450 for the Brazilian air force. The air force has already received Hermes 450s through AEL for a demonstration programme. Embraer also signed a memorandum of understanding with São José dos Campos-based Santos LAB, supporting the start-up as it supplies Caraca 2 mini-UAVs to the Brazilian marines. Both moves follow Embraer’s acquisition earlier this year of a majority stake in OrbiSat, which has demonstrated a mid-endurance UAV called the Sarvant. Santos Lab, meanwhile, has teamed with Boeing as an offset partner, assuming the Brazilian air force buys the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for the FX-2 contract. Santos would partner Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, to market the Scan Eagle in Brazil. Embraer’s link with the Hermes 450 comes as Avibras revealed a mock-up of a new UAS called the Falcao. The aircraft is advertised as able to lift 150kg (330lb) on 15h missions, but its current development status was not disclosed by company officials. Taking a similar approach to Embraer, Avibras has also formed links with small start-ups in Brazil. Flight Technology, for example supplies the flight controls for the Falcao. Flight Technology also unveiled a new family of Horas 100 mini-UAVs. Last July the company supplied three prototypes of the 100kg-class Watchdog UAS, which is renamed the Horas 200, and two prototypes of the smaller Horas 100 to the Brazilian army. Production go-ahead has been stalled by Brazil’s decision to slash military spending by 26.5% this year. The Brazilian military has still more options available in Brazil. The federal police last year received a Heron 1 UAV from Israel Aerospace Industries, but it has not yet flown due to budget constraints. At the smallest level, Brazilian start-up Gyrofly Innovations unveiled two new quadrotor helicopters in the micro-UAV class. China’s Poly Technologies displayed a model of the PW-3 weaponised UAS in the exhibit hall at Latin America Aerospace and Defence 2011 convention.

14/04/11 By Stephen Trimble Flight International

Sukhoi is still pushing for a chance to compete for Brazil's F-X2 fighter contract despite being dropped from the air force's short-list two years ago. "We still apply all possible efforts open to us to get back" in the competition, says Mikhail Bregman, first deputy general of Sukhoi for sales and marketing, speaking through an interpreter. Bregman says he thinks Sukhoi's bid based on the Su-35 is "better by far" compared to the F-X2 competitors, which now include the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen. The Su-35 possesses some capabilities even superior to Sukhoi's design for a fifth-generation fighter, which is called the promising front-line fighter aircraft (PAK-FA). So far, Brazil has not officially re-opened the competition to new bidders. President Dilma Rousseff, who was inaugurated on 1 January, has launched a comprehensive review of the air force's two-year-old evaluation process for F-X2, which possibly further delays contract award to next year. But Rousseff's review is considering only the existing three bids. "Since we don't have any final decision [by the Brazilian government], we can't exclude any options at this time," says Sergei Goreslaveskiy, head of the Russian delegation to the Latin America Aerospace and Defense 2011 conference in Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, Boeing, Dassault and Saab continued making their case in Brazil this week for the 36-aircraft contrac

MOSCOW, April 14 (UPI)

A Russian helicopter deal with Brazil may be affected by budget cuts just as Russia is trying to expand its presence in the growing Latin American arms market. Brazil's Defense Ministry will decide by the end of this month whether the cuts it plans to make to its defense budget will affect an order for 12 Russian Mil Mi-35M combat transport helicopters, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports. "This year's ministry plan stipulates that the contract on the supply of Russian Mi-35M helicopters should be fulfilled, and we cannot say now which of the projects may be affected by the cuts," it quotes an unnamed source from the Brazilian Defense Ministry as saying. In a bid to cut costs, the Brazilian government has said it plans to slash its defense budget by around $2.6 billion, or nearly 30 percent, to a total of $7 billion. This could affect the second batch of the delivery of the Mi-35M helicopters, a new export version of the popular Soviet-made Mi-24 Hind. Six gunships have already been delivered, with the remainder due to be supplied during the course of this year. Brazil may very well delay those deliveries, observers say.

Another deal could go through. Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said this week it was in talks with Brazil on jointly producing armored vehicles. This comes as Rosoboronexport is trying to gain an even stronger foothold in the Latin American arms market, which has seen strong growth in recent years. Money spent on defense in Latin America last year increased 5.8 percent to $63.3 billion on the region's economic boom, the geopolitical rise of Brazil and internal security threats in some states, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an arms trade watchdog, said in a study released this week. Apart from its deals with Brazil, Russia has sold weapons to Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Venezuela, funding the latter country's imports with attractive loans. Russia sold around $10 billion worth of arms in 2010, media outlets have reported, making it the world's second-largest weapons exporter behind the United States. Russian-made tanks, air defense systems, helicopters and fighter jets are among the best-sold products -- albeit mainly to developing and emerging countries, which value the Russian price-performance ratio.

14 April 2011 by defenseWeb

An undisclosed number of “important countries” in South America will shortly begin in-country trials of two Paramount-produced armoured vehicles. A procurement decision is expected within months, the company says in a statement. The Maverick, an internal security vehicle designed for use by police and other law enforcement organisations, and the Marauder, a mine protected armoured vehicle, will be trialled by both defence forces and internal security forces. “The successful outcome of these trials could lead to Paramount Group setting up manufacturing facilities in the region,” the company says in a statement. “These trials are extremely significant for South Africa and South America as they mark greater collaboration between these two fast-growing economic regions,” Paramount Group CE John Craig says. “...these trials are all part of our aggressive expansion drive into the region. We expect the South American market for armoured vehicles to grow steadily over the next five years. “As a result of force modernisation and a desire to address long standing internal security issues we are seeing growing defence expenditure across the region. Countries like Brazil, Colombia and Argentina have all announced double-digit increases in spending over the next five years,” Craig says. “Paramount Group’s unique manufacturing approach, whereby we locate manufacturing facilities in-country, will allow us to share Africa’s best technology and skills with the engineers and scientists of South America. Technology transfer, better trade links and skills sharing are all positive outcomes of greater co-operation between South America and South Africa.” Paramount’s entry into South America comes at an important and symbolic moment for South Africa, the media release adds. The world’s largest developing economies Brazil, China, Russia and India are holding their third annual meeting this week with South Africa being the “new entry” in this select group, now known as BRICS.

Paramount Group executive chairman Ivor Ichikowitz says “the world economy is being re-ordered and South America is emerging as a major powerhouse of growth and prosperity. However, it still faces some intractable internal security problems which are preventing it from exploiting its full potential. The reality is that sustainable economic growth requires sustainable security. “Paramount Group’s presence in Brazil and our entry into Latin America comes at an historic time. Brazil and South Africa represent a new wave of emerging economies and both are important gateways to their continents. There is huge potential for collaboration in defence and aerospace and Paramount Group is proud to be at the forefront of this new age of collaboration,” Ichikowitz added. “Paramount Group is one of the new breed of African businesses which are helping to diversify economies and stimulate regional economic integration. We believe Latin America offers a solid foundation for doing business in the future and we are keen to become an important industrial player and share our technology with new partners in the region.”

Paramount Group lays claim to the title of Africa’s largest privately owned defence and aerospace company with global manufacturing facilities and joint ventures with selected partners in Africa, Europe, Asia and elsewhere around the world. The company has experienced more than 20% sales growth year-on-year over the last five years and nearly doubled its workforce over the last 12 months. Founded in 1994, the company develops and designs solutions to tackle peacekeeping, defence and internal security problems. Solutions range from camp systems, logistic equipment, and personal protection gear, as well as crowd control equipment, communication technologies and armoured MPVs.

source embraerdefensesystems.com

14/04/11 By Stephen Trimble Flight International

Embraer has signed agreements with two more manufacturing partners on the KC-390 tanker-transport, but the biggest supplier decisions remained undecided. Finalising commitments signed last year, Embraer selected Argentina's FAdeA and the Czech Republic's Aero Vodochody to join the KC-390 supply chain. FAdeA will deliver spoilers, flap fairings, tail cone, electronic cabinet and doors for the nose landing gear and ramp. Aero Vodochody will build the rear fuselage section, crew and parachute doors, emergency doors and hatches, cargo ramp and fixed leading edge. Argentina's government last year committed to order six KC-390s and the Czech Republic pledged to buy two. But the LAAD 2011 show passed without Embraer securing new orders or signing agreements for other key suppliers, including the cockpit and engines. The first KC-390 is scheduled to begin assembly in 2013 before first flight a year later and first delivery to the Brazilian air force in 2016. Several companies are still seeking to gain position on the largest aircraft Embraer has launched to date. Two Israeli companies - Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries - confirmed interest in competing against each other and perhaps others to supply the cockpit system. Ran Hallerstein, executive vice-president and co-general manager for Elbit's Aerospace division, says the company has submitted bids through Brazilian subsidiary Aeroelectronica (AEL) for several systems, including mission system packages, electronic warfare suite and payloads. The most challenging requirement AEL's bid faces is the Brazilian air force's demand for a commercially certificated avionics system. Meanwhile, Yair Shamir, chairman of IAI, has not ruled out interest by the Israeli military for a KC-390 order. "We will look at it," Shamir says.

April 13, 2011 Tony Skinner SHEPARD GROUP

Brazilian firm InbraFiltro Group is confident of securing a launch customer for its Gladiador 4x4 light armoured vehicle by the end of 2011, the company has told Shephard. Displaying the final configuration of the vehicle for the first time at LAAD 2011, the company expects the high levels of regional interest for the vehicle, which it describes as a ‘light tank on wheels' (LTOW), to soon translate to a production contract. The vehicle was developed to meet a stated request by the Brazilian Army and the company is now negotiating to start production at its Sao Paolo facility. InbraFiltro Group business director, José Carlos Sampaio Alves, said the army had a requirement for some 350 light armoured vehicles but this number may be reduced due to budgetary pressures. According to company literature, the army evaluated the Gladiador against similar-sized international vehicles, with the LTOW gaining the best result in the categories of weight/performance, capacity/armouring and mobility/consumption. Alves said other armed forces and security agencies in Latin America, Africa and Asia had already shown interest in the vehicle. In addition, the Rio de Janeiro police planned to trial the vehicle in coming months, using the variant that was developed for the army. ‘This will certainly be a landmark year for the Gladiador where most of these decisions will be made,' Alves said. He said the ‘100% Brazilian' vehicle had been designed from the ground up, with Brazilian company Agrale Industry responsible for the chassis and mechanical engineering. Offered for $350,000 for the basic version, the seven ton vehicle has capacity for a driver and seven passengers, provides level four protection and has a top speed of 130km/h. Beyond the Gladiador, the company used the show to highlight its filtration systems and personal protection products. It is also contracted by Helibras to provide composite armouring for the Brazilian armed forces EC725 transport helicopters.

Source www.patricksaviation.com

SHELTON, Conn., April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/

Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) today announced the signing of an annually renewable contract providing in-country maintenance in support of the Colombian Army UH-60 BLACK HAWK fleet. Twenty-one Sikorsky-trained technicians will perform Phase Maintenance Inspections and 120 hour inspections at the Aviation Maintenance Base in Tolemaida to help ensure fleet mission readiness for combat operations. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"With the third-largest fleet of BLACK HAWK helicopters in the world, Colombia is an anchor customer in Latin America. Our in-country line maintenance support will enhance the operational readiness of the Colombian Armed Services," said David Adler, president of Sikorsky Aerospace Services.  "The SAS maintenance team, along with the development of an S-70™ BLACK HAWK Helicopter Training Facility at the Colombian Air Force Base in Melgar, represents our significant commitment to customers in the region. We look forward to broadening SAS support to other military markets in Latin America."

Requisite maintenance services for the fleet will be executed by the Sikorsky Team whose OEM expertise will assure that operational readiness is a top priority. The technical and tactical characteristics of the UH-60L fleet provide the mobility and penetration required by the Colombian Army to successfully execute a variety of dynamic missions.  The Colombian Army Aviation -- part of the Army's Combined Arms Team -- has acquired Scheduled and Unscheduled Maintenance Services for its fleet of UH-60 helicopters to ensure sustained support for operations mandated by the Colombian Army.  In pursuit of national order and security, the UH-60L fleet carries out aerial support on air assault, reconnaissance, supply and other undertakings. 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. Its Sikorsky Aerospace Services business designs and applies advanced logistics and supply chain solutions for commercial rotary, military rotary and fixed wing operators. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

SOURCE Sikorsky Aerospace Services

Other models of vessels on the DCNS display include the FREMM and new aircraft carrier

being built for the French Navy. Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update

April 13, 2011 by Noam Eshel DEFENSE UPDATE

DCNS is a major supplier of surface vessels and submarines in the Latin America region and, specifically Brazil. Since 2008, the Brazilian Navy and DCNS embarked on a large scale program to design and construct of four Scorpene type conventional-propulsion submarines, under a technology transfer agreement in which the French designer will provide the technical assistance for the design and construction of the submarine, as well as the non-nuclear part of the first Brazilian nuclear-powered submarine. DCNS also provides support services for the construction of a new naval base and a shipyard to support these vessels. At LAAD 2011 DCNS is displaying models of its compact submarine, designed for operation in coastal waters, a theatre of growing importance to all maritime nations. Andrasta is a direct descendant of the Scorpene already selected by Brazil. According to the designers, Andrasta combines a state-of-the-art design with stealth, agility and power.

The company highlights here the F21 heavyweight torpedo, designed to replace the French Navy’s current-generation F17 mod2 torpedo carried by its SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) ballistic missile submarine fleet and has also been selected for the next-generation Barracuda-type SSN fleet. The F21 is being developed in response to new and emerging operational challenges to offer the host submarine unrivalled dominance. Its discretion, range and fire power will give it an unrivalled tactical advantage over all adversaries. The new torpedo is designed to knock out enemy surface vessels and submarines.

As for self-protection of the submarines, DCNS highlights the Contralto-S torpedo countermeasures suite for submarines, designed to defeat latest-generation torpedoes by using acoustic decoys employing ‘confusion/dilution’ principle. Contralto-S is designed for all types of submarines and can be incorporated into new-build designs or added to existing boats as part of a refit or modernization program. The Brazilian Navy has already selected the Contralto-S for its new class of submarines, following the French Navy use of the system as part of the Nemesis program protecting its conventional attack submarines.

DCNS also highlights its expertise in integrating submarine combat systems. The principal system is SUBTICS, which combines the submarine handling, long-range navigation and weapons control, including torpedoes, anti-ship missile, counter-measures, and land-attack capability. As a fully-integrated system, all functions are operated from multi-function common consoles and its open architecture and modularity guarantee that the system can be adapted to every type of submarines and configured according to operational requirements.

April 12, 2011 defpro.com

Rome | SELEX Communications, a Finmeccanica company, and the Brazilian Army signed a contract for first phase of the upgrade of SISTAC, the tactical communication system in operation since 1998, supplied at that time by Marconi Communications (today SELEX Communications). The upgrade will be completed by this year. SISTAC has been used in the 1st Communications Battalion of Santo Angelo within the state of Rio Grande do Sul, supporting the 3rd Division, and it's the first system of this kind that has been acquired by Brazil. It's a digital integrated multi-service communications network based on a shelter able to supply voice and data services, both encrypted and non-encrypted, and to interface with public telephone network and single-channel radio systems.