Shortly after Italy suggested selling 30 M-346 light fighter jets to Brazil, France is now preparing a broad defense package that will be offered to the country by President Emmanuel Macron in November.
According to the Brazilian media, Macron will discuss with President Lula at the G20 Summit an offer that includes 24 Dassault Rafale fighter jets, 50 Airbus H145 helicopters, 36 Caesar howitzers and even an additional Scorpène submarine to the four already ordered.
Scheduled for November 18 and 19, the event will bring together representatives of the world’s 20 largest economies in Rio de Janeiro.
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Last week, members of the Brazilian government revealed to local media that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will make an offer for Brazil to acquire 30 Leonardo M-346 subsonic jets. The plan is for them to replace the Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) A-1 (AMX) and possibly the Navy’s AF-1 (A-4).
Both planes are nearing the end of their useful life and the Ministry of Defense has been looking for alternatives to replace them.
Second FAB fighter
Macron’s package, however, targets a delicate issue: the adoption of a second fighter by the FAB, in addition to the 36 Saab Gripen E/F ordered in 2014.
After several statements in favor of a second batch of the Swedish aircraft, the Brazilian government remained silent on the subject and at the beginning of the year admitted that it is evaluating a deal for second-hand F-16 fighters from the United States.
Apparently, the 24 Rafale fighters would also be used since the FAB is facing budgetary constraints.
Dassault participated in the F-X2 competition and was announced as the winner with the Rafale by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2009, which was later denied by the Air Force.
The FAB selected the Gripen E/F in 2014 after also evaluating the Rafale and the Boeing F/A-18E/F.
