The governments of Brazil and Sweden are advancing in negotiations involving the sale of Embraer C-390 Millennium freighters to the Swedes and the purchase of more Saab Gripen fighters for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
Second article of Folha de São Paulo, President Lula receives a delegation from the Swedish government this Thursday (23). The tying of military aircraft is among the topics to be discussed in Brasília today.
The interest is mutual. The FAB has already purchased 40 F-39s (36 from the original order and four additional planes), and should receive a shipment of two fighters in December. Sweden, in turn, wants to replace its C-130 Hercules, exactly the model that Embraer's KC-390 was developed to replace.
It is nothing new that the Air Force Command wants another batch of Gripens, since the aircraft already acquired are not enough to replace the A-1 AMX attack jets and the F-5M fighters, which are expected to retire around 2025 and 2030, respectively.
Still, purchasing more F-39s is not so easy and a legal arrangement would be necessary, explains the report signed by Igor Gielow. As determined by law, the contractual amendment cannot exceed 25% of the original value, which would allow the acquisition of 14 additional fighters. This represents an additional amount of around R$4,5 billion.
In September, Defense Minister José Múcio had already confirmed negotiations for the sale of the KC-390 to Stockholm, with a trip to Sweden scheduled for October. Events in Israel, however, became a priority, preventing any talks between governments.
The expectation now is that the countries will sign an agreement next year.
