Latin America

Brazil has allocated about US$9 billion (15 billion Rais) for defense spending, but natural disasters hitting the country, required emergency funding, part of which will be allocated by slashing over a quarter of the 2011 defense spending, being reduced to $6.6 billion (around 11.2 billion Rais). Minister of Defense Nelson Jobim said in February that the reduction will apply...

Spurring Brazilian demand for defense and homeland security is attracting major global arms exporters, particularly the European companies that have suffered dramatic cuts in domestic orders, seeking export markets to improve their backlog. LAAD 2011 – Latin America Aerospace & Defense expo is the most important trade show for the defense and security industry in the region. Selected to become Media Partner for this important event, Defense-Update is launching this update to follow this bi-annual event, bringing the domestic Brazilian defense industry together with international companies seeking to develop their business in that region.

The planned production of 50 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters, soon to begin at its Brazilian subsidiary Helibras new assembly line Itajubá in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil will lead to Helibras doubling its staff strength to that of 600 persons with a reinforced engineering centre. So far Eurocopter has established a strong presence in Latin America, through three subsidiaries...

Embraer Defense and Security is the new subsidiary established by Embraer to focus on defense and security markets worldwide. In recent years, Embraer has also expanded its activities in the defense sector beyond aircraft and airborne systems, offering integrated solutions for training, Communication, Computer, Command, Control and Intelligence (C4I).

The announcement of the winner to provide the next generation fighter for the Brazilian Air Force has been postponed for at least a month, and could be delayed for a year, after the ministry of interior and prosecution have agreed to open an inquiry into the multi-billion-dollar tender in which France, the United States and Sweden are competing. The...

Brazil squeezes Boeing and Saab to match the terms of the mega-deal agreed by the presidents of the two countries. After Eurocopter and DCSN have already invested large programs in Brazil, Dassault could be next if Rafale is selected for the F-X2. The Brazilian Air Force has extended the deadline for submitting best and final proposals for the F-X2 fighter aircraft, heating...

A produtora de sistemas de defesa líder de Israel, a Rafael Advance Defense Systems, é uma das maiores exibidoras no pavilhão de Israel na LAAD. A companhia está apresentando aqui um grande número de sistemas, endereçados à segurança marítima e costeira, vigilância de área, monitoria e controle para áreas terrestres e urbanas, e reconhecimento aerotransportado e espacial. Respondendo ao...

The French based shipyard DCSN will construct four conventional-propulsion submarines for the Brazilian Navy under a program worth 6.790 billion euros. The agreement followed a framework contract, part of the strategic defense cooperation agreement signed last year between France and Brazil. The submarines will be built by Itaguaí Construções Navais, a joint venture set up by DCNS and Brazilian...

By Ray Peterson, Forecast International Although Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has no doubt been stirred by Venezuela's military buildup, he also recognizes the need for his own country to rectify its deficient level of armaments in order to strengthen Brazil's position as a regional leader. He has increased pressure to make funds available for two ambitious military programs, previously...