Latin America

A Colombian Air-Force CN235 special-mission aircraft plane crashed on Friday in the north of the country, killing all 11 of those on board. The CN235 is manufactured by Airbus; the plane was produced in 1998 in Seville, Spain and was one of several aircraft converted to carry out Electronic Warfare missions.

LAAD 2014 Defense-Update: Following the Memorandum of Understanding announced on 11 July 2014, Saab and Embraer have signed today an agreement for the joint management of the F-X2 Project for the Brazilian Air Force. The sale of 36 Gripen NG aircraft to Brazil under a contract worth US$ 4.55 Billion provides for a complete, ‘turnkey weapon system’, with comprehensive logistic support that includes training, spare parts, support, planning and maintenance.

LAAD 2015 Report: Armored vehicles and protection systems

LAAD 2015: IAI set to expand operations in Brazil, investing in a number of strategic partnerships

LAAD 2015 Report: Israel offers C4I solutions to Brazil

Embraer today successfully performed the first flight of the new military transport and aerial refueling jet, the KC-390.

The Colombian Air Force (FAC) has reportedly grounded its entire fleet of Kfir C-10 jet fighters following a crash of one of the aircraft. According to Colombian sources, the J79-GE J1EQD engines powering the Kfir are believed to have caused four accidents involving the Kfir TC12/C10, in a series of accidents that claimed the life of one pilot.

The Italian vehicle manufacturer Iveco has signed a contract to sell 80 vehicles to the Lebanese military and police. The deal, worth about 30 million euros, includes 25 light armored vehicles and six mine protected armored vehicles to be produced in Italy and ten Brazilian produced VBTP-MR amphibious armored personnel carriers. The remaining vehicles include unarmored military trucks.

The Brazilian Navy is restarting the refurbishment of eight C1/S2 carrier based transport aircraft. If everything goes according to plan, four ex-US Navy C-1A Trader aircraft that have rested for 26 years in the aircraft boneyard in Arizona will return to sea, operating from the deck of Brazil’s aircraft carrier São Paulo.

MBDA has announced the selection of its Sea Ceptor naval air defense system by the Brazilian Navy. The weapon will provide local area air defence for the Brazilian next generation Tamandaré class corvettes.

Plasan has presented today the first of six Guarder high performance armored vehicles ordered by the Sao Paolo police department. The order for the development and delivery of six vehicles for about $9.5 million was announced in June 2014. The vehicles will equip the special weapons and tactics team (SWAT) of the largest city in Brazil.

The Saab group has signed today a contract with the Brazilian Federal Government covering the development and production of 36 Gripen NG fighter aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force. The total order value is approximately $5.4 billion (SEK 39.3 billion).

Argentina is probing to join with Brazil in the procurement of 24 Saab Gripen fighters. Argentinian and Brazilian defense ministers have recently discussed the potential procurement and Argentina's participation in the production of the Saab-designed aircraft

Embraer rolled out the first prototype of the KC-390 military transport from the production hangar at the industrial plant of Gavião Peixoto, Brazil. The first flight, planned to take place by the end of 2014.