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Brazil and France Sign $12bn Defence Pact
23 December 2008
Brazil and France signed a defence deal on Tuesday worth about 8.6bn ($12bn), which includes the transfer of technology for Latin America's largest economy to develop its own arms industry.
The accord was signed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who ended a two-day visit to Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
Under the deal Brazil will buy 50 EC725 helicopters built locally by Helibras, Eurocopter's subsidiary in Brazil. Eurocopter is the helicopter subsidiary of European aerospace group EADS. The helicopters, worth an estimated 1.9bn, are to be delivered from 2010.
France will also provide the technology for Brazil to assemble four conventional submarines worth around 4.1bn and subsequently its first nuclear-powered submarine.
Of the total 8.6bn, 6bn will go to French companies and 2.6bn to Brazilian firms, a source with the French delegation said.
"It is an historic decision because France believes that a powerful Brazil is an important element for the stability of the world," Sarkozy told a news conference.
Lula hailed the accord as a breakthrough that reflected Brazil's status as an emerging power.
"France is willing to...build an alliance in Brazil, to transfer technology so Brazil can have a defence industry that corresponds to its importance in the hemisphere, in the world," Lula told the news conference.
Brazil last year earmarked $880m to complete a nuclear reactor for the submarine.
The Lula administration presented a new strategic defence plan last week which shifts the focus of its military toward protecting the Amazon and its newly found massive, offshore oil reserves.
As part of a large-scale refurbishment of ageing military equipment, the government expects to renew its entire fleet of fighter jets over the next 15 years. France's Dassault is one of three shortlisted suppliers in a tender for the first 36 jets.
By Yann Le Guernigou and Stuart Grudgings, Reuters.
Air Force Technology - Brazil and France Sign $12bn Defence Pact
23 December 2008
Brazil and France signed a defence deal on Tuesday worth about 8.6bn ($12bn), which includes the transfer of technology for Latin America's largest economy to develop its own arms industry.
The accord was signed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who ended a two-day visit to Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
Under the deal Brazil will buy 50 EC725 helicopters built locally by Helibras, Eurocopter's subsidiary in Brazil. Eurocopter is the helicopter subsidiary of European aerospace group EADS. The helicopters, worth an estimated 1.9bn, are to be delivered from 2010.
France will also provide the technology for Brazil to assemble four conventional submarines worth around 4.1bn and subsequently its first nuclear-powered submarine.
Of the total 8.6bn, 6bn will go to French companies and 2.6bn to Brazilian firms, a source with the French delegation said.
"It is an historic decision because France believes that a powerful Brazil is an important element for the stability of the world," Sarkozy told a news conference.
Lula hailed the accord as a breakthrough that reflected Brazil's status as an emerging power.
"France is willing to...build an alliance in Brazil, to transfer technology so Brazil can have a defence industry that corresponds to its importance in the hemisphere, in the world," Lula told the news conference.
Brazil last year earmarked $880m to complete a nuclear reactor for the submarine.
The Lula administration presented a new strategic defence plan last week which shifts the focus of its military toward protecting the Amazon and its newly found massive, offshore oil reserves.
As part of a large-scale refurbishment of ageing military equipment, the government expects to renew its entire fleet of fighter jets over the next 15 years. France's Dassault is one of three shortlisted suppliers in a tender for the first 36 jets.
By Yann Le Guernigou and Stuart Grudgings, Reuters.
Air Force Technology - Brazil and France Sign $12bn Defence Pact
