Project F-X2 – Clarification
(Source: Brazilian Air Force; issued Sept. 11, 2009)
(Issued in Portuguese; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)
The Air Force Command this week (Sept. 8) told the manufacturers short-listed for the Project F-X2 competition (Boeing, Dassault and Saab), that they will be able to submit new proposals to improve their offers to the selection process of new fighter aircraft to defend the country.
In a statement this week, the Defense Ministry said the negotiations with the three finalists continue, with the possibility of expanding and redefining the proposals.
In the next step, the F-X2 Project Management Committee will complete the technical evaluation, and prepare the final report to be submitted to the High Command of the Air Force and, later, to the Ministry of Defense.
"We will do technical analysis. The government will analyze policy and strategic aspects, "said Gen. Juniti Saito, Commander of the Air Force.
The French government has already made a commitment to offer Rafale fighters (from Dassault) at competitive and reasonable prices, comparable to those paid by the French military, and with transfer of technology, among others. This week, the other two competitors have also confirmed their interest in further bids.
According to Gen. Dirceu Noro, Chairman of the F-X2 Project Management Committee, participants are being evaluated in five priority areas: technology transfer; weapons systems [for Brazil]; offset and participation of Brazilian industry; technical-operational performance; and commercial aspects [price, financing and interest rates—Ed.].
Participants in the F-X2 Project will be evaluated according to how they score on various questions, for example on the level of technology transfer that they offer. The methodology of this work has been refined and applied by the Air Force since the early 1980s, when the country participated in the joint development of a fighter with Italy (AMX Project).
The result of the partnership with the Italians, and the development of a tactical attack aircraft which was used in combat (in Kosovo), was a learning experience for Brazilian industry. The Embraer 145 and 190 jet transport aircraft benefited from technology obtained during this period.
To understand the issues involved, it is worth noting that in the field of weapon systems, for example, the goal is to guarantee that Brazil will be able to use its own weapons, extant or to be developed in future, without any restriction.
So far, the selection process comprises more than 26,000 pages of documents, including offers and counter-offers, and these documents will serve as the basis for drafting and management of the contract to be signed. The Air Force Command plans to complete the technical phase of this process in October.
The FX-2 Project differs from the first selection process, which covered the purchase of 12 fighters to equip one air-defense squadron. In the current process, the model to be chosen will be the platform that will gradually replace the air force’s entire fighter fleet (F-2000, F-5 and A-1 fighters). It will be an investment over the next three decades.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS
May 2008
The Air Force Command, given the operational needs for the coming decades and following the combat aircraft retirement schedule of the Brazilian Air Force, on May 15 established the Project F-X2Management Committee, with the purpose of conducting the acquisition process of new fighter aircraft to be incorporated into the Air Force
The aim is to provide FAB a standardized fleet of multirole fighter aircraft, with flight operations in Brazil planned to begin in 2015, and to remain in service for about 30 years. The plan provides for the gradual replacement of the fleet of Mirage-2000, F-5M and A-1M.
To this end, six companies were pre-selected and were asked to submit information (Request For Information, RFI): the American Boeing (F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet) and Lockheed Martin (F-35 Lightning II), France's Dassault (Rafale), Russia's Rosoboronexport (Sukhoi SU-35), Sweden's Saab (Gripen) and the European consortium Eurofighter (Typhoon).
The process of choosing the winning aircraft takes into account primarily the fulfillment of operational requirements stipulated by the FAB. Other criteria used in the evaluation relate to logistics, costs, conditions offers of compensation trade and the degree of technology transfer for the Brazilian aeronautics industry.
June to November 2008
The Air force Command completed another stage of the selection process of the new multi-role fighter aircraft.
The Project F-X2 Management Committee (CGPF-X2) conducted studies for the evaluation of pre-selected aircraft (Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16 Adv, Saab Gripen NG and Sukhoi SU-35) in order to develop a short-list.
The implementation of the short-list was done to guarantee the fulfillment of operational requirements for fighter aircraft and allow the further evaluations of weapon systems candidates were selected.
The studies were based on information provided by companies in response to requests for information (Request For Information, RFI) issued in June 2008. Information provided by participating companies were evaluated systematically, considering aspects related to operational areas, logistics, technical, offsets and technology transfer to the national defense industry.
Thus, assessments were concentrated in the finalists following aircraft: Boeing (F-18 E / F Super Hornet), Dassault Aviation (Rafale) and Saab (Gripen NG).
The 36 aircraft that make up the 1st batch should be delivered from 2014, with a life expectancy of at least 30 years. Thus, over the next few years they will gradually replace the current Mirage 2000, F-5M and A-1M fighters. The knowledge and technological skills acquired in this acquisition will help ensure that Brazil meets the conditions required to produce, or participate in the production, of 5th-generation fighter in the medium- and long-term future.
On Oct. 30, 2008 the Project F-X2 Management Committee issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to the companies that had been short-listed: Boeing (F-18E / F Super Hornet), Dassault Aviation (Rafale) and Saab (Gripen NG).
Upon receipt of the Request for Proposals, the companies had until February 2, 2009 to submit proposals detailing the commercial, technical, operational, logistical, industrial, offset and technology transfer aspects of their offers.
February – 2009
On Feb. 2, the Air Force Command received the proposals from the participating companies selected in the short list: Boeing (F-18E / F Super Hornet), Dassault Aviation (Rafale) and Saab (Gripen NG).
At this point, the Project F-X2 Management Committee started working on the technical analysis of their offers in response to the RFP.
March - 2009
- The Command of the Air Force began meeting for clarifications with the companies participating in Project F-X2, in order to get more details about their offers.
The Project F-X2 Management Committee, through its technical team, conducted a thorough analysis, in accordance with appropriate methodology, keeping the focus on commercial aspects, technical, operational, logistical, compensation trade, industry offsets, and technology transfer.
On March 30, the Commission initiated the technical visits to companies competing for the Project F-X2, which included in-flight evaluation of the aircraft, to verify the technical, operational, logistics and industrial proposals. During this period, the project management teams also visited and evaluated industrial and logistical installations, maintenance workshops, systems development labs, and operational air force squadrons.
May 2009
Maintaining the policy of transparency in the selection process of new fighter aircraft, the Air Force Command on May 4 received the revised offers from participating companies for consideration and analysis by members of the Project F-X2 Management Committee.
June 2009
The Air Force Command ended the first round of data collection from companies participating in the process.
July - September 2009
The Commission carries out collection and analysis of additional information obtained from the tender finalists.
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