A Russian military delegation about to go to Brazil will offer joint development of a fifth-generation combat aircraft “of the type” of its own most newest fighter to Brazilian defense officials, a member of the delegation told RIA Novosti Monday.
The proposal seems to be in support of an unsolicited offer by Russia’s combat aircraft maker Sukhoi of its Su-35 fighter, that have been struck off Brazil’s shortlist for its air force’s F-X2 tender for the acquisition of 36 fighter jets worth $4 billion. Russia continues to be hoping to sell the Su-35s or similar aircraft to Brazil outside the framework of that tender, sweetening the tackle the brand new proposal.
“During the talks in Brazil, we’re able to offer our partners deliveries of ready-for-sale advanced aircraft just like the Su-35, but additionally joint development of a next-generation [combat] aircraft of the T-50 type,” the delegation source said.
The T-50 or PAK-FA, with the intention to make up the core of Russia’s future fighter fleet, is a multirole warplane featuring “stealth” technology,” super-maneuverability, super-cruise capability, and advanced avionics including an active electronically scanned array radar, in accordance with its designer Sukhoi.
In late April, President Vladimir Putin said the primary T-50 would enter service with Russia’s defense force in 2016.
Russia and India are already developing a by-product of T-50 for the Indian Air Force. Consistent with executives from India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a good way to build the plane, the 2 sides completed the preliminary design of the aircraft, tentatively dubbed FGFA, earlier this year and are actually negotiating an in depth design contract.
The F-X2 tender is Brazil’s second try to discover a replacement for its aging Northrop F-5 and Dassault Mirage fighters. An earlier tender, F-X, was cancelled in 2005 resulting from loss of funding.
Three contenders officially remain inside the running – the Swedish SAAB Gripen NG, French Dassault Rafale and US Boeing FA-18E/F Super Hornet. In line with Defense Industry Daily, the FA-18E/F was on the subject of winning the deal last month, but revelations that the usa National Security Agency had spied at the Brazilian presidential office put the deal on hold. Brazil’s Poder Aero magazine, citing local officials, says Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff decided late last month to postpone the tender until 2015, after next year’s elections.
A Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, will visit Brazil and Peru on October 14-17 to advertise sales of Russian weaponry to these countries. It includes Alexander Fomin, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) and Anatoly Isaikin, head of the arms exports monopoly Rosobornexport.
Related Topic Tags