Boeing, Dassault in dogfight over Brazil’s fighter contract

With the French Dassault threatening to walk away with Brazil's tender for 36 fighter aircraft with its Rafale multi-role fighter offering, American defence contractor Boeing Co is making an improved offer for its F/A-18 Super Hornets to swing the deal its way. Boeing has now offered to assemble most of the fighters in Brazil.

 Boeing has said it wants to manufacture just the first 12 planes in the US and transfer equipment and tools for assembly lines in Brazil, where Sao Jose dos Campos-based Empresa Brasileira Aeronautica SA (Embraer) could assemble the remainder.

Super Hornet breaking the sound barrier

According to Boeing officials in Brasilia, the offer to assemble most of the aircraft in Brazil has US government sanction.

Brazil is intent on developing an advanced defence industry of its own and a broad strategic defence alliance signed with France last year has given the European country's defence companies a competitive edge in an area which hitherto was recognised as an exclusive preserve of American companies.

The Brazilian contract is potentially worth much more than 36 fighters, for if this South American regional power should expand the contract to around 100 aircraft, as is surmised, then the value of the deal will shoot up to around $7.2 billion. (See: France, Brazil close to inking $7.2 billion deal for Rafale fighters)