Last Monday (28), the Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant-Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, received the Ambassador of the United Kingdom Peter Wilson. The visit was also attended by the Defense Attaché of the United Kingdom, Captain of the British Royal Navy Mark Albon, and the Head of the Second Sub-Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force, Brigadier of the Air Paulo Roberto de Carvalho Júnior, informed the FAB.
Among the subjects dealt with during the visit, the two spoke about the FAB's intention to acquire two Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) in-flight refueling aircraft. The purchase of the planes, according to the FAB, is an undertaking of the Brazilian government that has priority given by the Air Force Command, due to the strategic operational gaps to be filled with this new capacity to be incorporated by the FAB.
In May the Ministry of Defense approved the acquisition of two used aircraft, without the need for compensation agreements, two months after the Ministry of Economy denied funds for the purchase of aircraft. At the end of January, the President of the Republic announced in a broadcast on Facebook the acquisition of two "A230" with funds rescued by Operation Lava-Jato.
During the meeting, the Ambassador commented that the Global Air Chiefs' Conference 2021, which is a conference with commanders and representatives of the world's air forces, cannot be held in person, but virtually, on July 14 and 15, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he emphasized that the virtual meeting will be of great relevance for the context of cooperation relations between the air forces of the nations participating in the event.
The UK representative also addressed the British initiative called “Integrated Review”, a proposal launched by the British government with the intention of substantially increasing investments in defense and cooperation with friendly nations, with repercussions that could include the Brazilian Air Force. .
In this regard, the Ambassador informed that Brazil occupies a prominent position on the world stage and that, therefore, the British government wishes to cooperate in matters of security, defence, development, foreign policy and also in the country's space area.
In this context, the Air Force Commander, Lieutenant Brigadier Baptista Junior, invited the Ambassador to visit the Space Operations Center (COPE), as well as the Aerospace Science and Technology Department (DCTA) and the Alcântara Launch Center (CLA). .
The objective is that the diplomatic representation of the United Kingdom in Brazil can get to know the Brazilian Space Program in greater depth and, thus, can strengthen partnerships with the FAB that are even more fruitful and advantageous for both countries.
Via Brazilian Air Force.
