Gripen – praag.org

Brazil buys Gripen fighters instead of French planes

Swedish aerospace maker Saab beat competition from France’s Dassault and US aviation giant Boeing to win a $5 billion contract to equip the Brazilian air force with 36 new fighter jets (pictured), the Brazilian defence minister announced Wednesday.

“After analyzing all the facts, President Dilma Rousseff directed me to inform that the winner of the contract for the acquisition of the 36 fighter jets for the Brazilian Air Force is the Swedish Gripen NG,” Defense Minister Celso Amorim told a press conference.

The announcement came after more than 10 years of discussions and repeated delays due to budgetary constraints.

The Gripen is said to be cheaper than either Dassault’s Rafale or Boeing’s F/A-18. It is a state-of-the-art multi-role fighter jet capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air, air-to-surface and reconnaissance missions. It is in use in the air forces of Britain, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Hungary.

Brazil insisted on technology transfers so that the planes can be assembled locally and give a boost to the domestic defence industry.

President Rousseff had postponed a decision on the FX-2 replacement contract in early 2011 for budgetary reasons but Brazilian air force chiefs insisted they needed the new fighter aircraft to maintain an adequate air defence. The air force is to retire its 12 Mirage jets in late December.

Brazil bought the refurbished Mirage 2000 C/Bs from France in 2005 for $80 million to fly for five years. -france24.com

Lack of funds ground SAAF helicopters, planes

None of the South African Air Force’s 18 Agusta A109 helicopters are being used, because there is no money to operate them, say reports.

The helicopters were occasionally enabled, but did not ascend, an anonymous source reportedly told the newspaper on Wednesday.

In the long-term, this reportedly meant pilots could lose their competency skills and that the helicopters would fall into disuse.

Beeld reported that the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter aircraft, which were also bought in the multimillion-rand arms deal a few years ago, were also rarely used.

A senior South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officer reportedly told the newspaper said the situation was grim.

Amid a 60% budget cut, it was considering selling the Gripens and not just the A109 helicopters, but all helicopter operations.

Military expert Helmoed-Romer Heitman reportedly said the SAAF was suffering from the government’s indecision about what it expected from an army.

“An air force without fighter aircraft is a dead duck in Africa’s military context. An army without helicopters and transport aircraft is a dinosaur in a swamp,” he was quoted as saying.

“An army without attack and tactical transport helicopters is a lame duck. A navy without helicopters and maritime patrol planes is blind.”

According to the newspaper the SANDF did not respond to requests for comment. – Sapa

Are the SANDF’s helicopters grounded for lack of funds?

The SANDF's Agusta A109 helicopter — The SANDF’s Agusta A109 helicopter

The SA National Defence Force refused to comment on Wednesday about allegations that its 18 Agusta A109 helicopters were grounded as there were no funds to operate them.

“My comment is very clear: we do not discuss operational matters and [the defence force’s] state of readiness,” said SANDF spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini.

According to Beeld newspaper, it was told by an anonymous source that the helicopters were occasionally enabled, but did not ascend.

In the long-term, this reportedly meant pilots could lose their competency skills and that the helicopters would fall into disuse.

Beeld reported that the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter aircraft, which were also bought in the multi-billion rand arms deal a few years ago, were also rarely used.

A senior SANDF officer reportedly told the newspaper the situation was grim.

Amid a 60 percent budget cut, it was considering selling the Gripens and not just the A109 helicopters, but all helicopter operations.

Military expert Helmoed Romer-Heitman reportedly said the SAAF was suffering from government’s indecision about what it expected from the army.

“An air force without fighter aircraft is a dead duck in Africa’s military context. An army without helicopters and transport aircraft is a dinosaur in a swamp,” he was quoted as saying.

“An army without attack and tactical transport helicopters is a lame duck. A navy without helicopters and maritime patrol planes is blind.” – Sapa