those numbers make a lot of sense if Brazil is thinking of covering its entire airspace. more so, now that it is actively pursuing a status as regional great power.
I agree but then again we must consider politicians are perhaps the most feeble minded creatures slithering around the planet.
The FAB currently has 102 F-5EM & AMX, & has just retired 12 Mirage 2000, so buying 108 Gripen would be just maintaining numbers, more or less.
In terms of numbers they indeed seem to barely catch up (if they retire they entire fleet of AMX's and F-5's). But capability wise its a quantum leap from what Latin America is accustomed to.
I assume government cutbacks are a concern to Embraer's KC-390 program.
Yes, but you have to run to stand still. If you don't upgrade your capability, you'll be left behind. Every one else will be upgrading.
No radar guided air to air missile capability seems a tad limited. By the time they get these, advanced AMRAAM variants, Meteor and upgraded Derby BVR weapons will be available and likely already integrated on the Gripen platform.
I guess that's the plan for a later weapons package, they're not going to be getting delivered until 2019 at the earliest. I think Meteor was supposed to go active on Gripen at some point this year. Funny thing is that looking at the FABs current missile inventory, with the reported purchase of IRIS-T, they'd have 6 different IR SRAAMs in inventory.
Or a small no risk purchase of Meteor, which has already been integrated on Gripen A-D, & should be fully integrated on Gripen E by the time Brazil starts putting it into service.
Yep, absolutely. AMRAAM was just used as an example, as it is already integrated on the platform of choice, as well as the mooted interim leased C/D models.
Or they are prepared to simply wait for the Marlin BVR missile...
Yep, the initial version seems analogous to early AMRAAM variants with a future ramjet powered version ala Meteor.
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