Sweden sweetens bid for Brazil fighter jet deal
BRASILIA (AFP) - Sweden has sweetened its bid for a lucrative contract to sell 36 fighter jets to Brazil, promising that 40 percent of the supersonic Gripen aircraft would be built in Brazil, officials said.
| Related news: • Saab's fight in Brazil 'not yet over' • Brazil turned down Saab's fighter jet • Saab prepares for 'life after Gripen' |
The offer came on top of a promise that Brazil would have full access to the technology used in the state-of-the-art military aircraft.
A similar offer helped give France front-runner status in high-stakes bidding for the coveted fighter jet contract, valued at four to seven billion dollars.
"The Swedish government and the SAAB motor company are 100 percent committed to making the technology transfer," Swedish State Secretary for Defense Hakan Jevrell said at a press conference, accompanied by a Saab representative.
"There will be no restriction in the transfer of technology."
Jevrell said that in addition to the technology, Sweden would offer Brazil "a very competitive price" for the fighter jets.
The sweetener offered by Stockholm is the latest from one of three major aerospace powers -- France, Sweden and the United States -- jostling to win the coveted fighter jet contract, as Brazil seeks to modernize its air force in a bid to become Latin America's preeminent military power.
French manufacturer Dassault appears to have a lock on the contract:
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week issued a joint statement opening Brazil's official negotiations to buy 36 of Dassault's Rafale jets without, however, ending the tender process.
The Swedish offer is in line with requirements laid out by President Lula, who said he wants to secure technology transfers and build the planes in Brazil.
Dassault, fielding its high-tech Rafale fighter, had been seen as the leading contender because of its guarantee to share all technology with Brazil.
"The air force has the technological know-how to make the evaluation, and it will do so," he added. "But the decision is political and strategic, and it's up to the president of the republic and no one else," Lula said recently.
Brazil has set a September 21 deadline for the contenders to finalize their bids.
| • SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTER • ALL BREAKING NEWS ON TWITTER |
Last Updated (Friday, 18 September 2009 05:40)
Analyst warns of overheated stocks
STOCK MARKET – Although the Stockholm exchange is expected to keep increasing there are some companies that may be overheated.
Not good enough, Obama
Sweden's Prime Minister criticised US President Barack Obama's efforts to adopt new climate change legislation.
Sweden gives go-ahead for criticized gas pipeline
Sweden’s government has authorized Russia's Nord Stream gas pipeline to pass under its waters.
Smile, Mats Jansson, you’re back in black
Mats Jansson, head of Scandinavian airline SAS, surprised by posting the company’s first quarterly profit in two years.
Morocco kickes out Swedish diplomat
A Swedish diplomat is accused of handing official secret documents to Western Sahara-linked "separatists".
'We are much worse off than the car industry'
"The politicians in Brussels live in their own world and are not aware of the problems in the truck industry", said Leif Östling, CEO of Swedish truck manufacturer Scania, when meeting EU officials.
Swedish krona tipped to rally next year
The Swedish krona is the talk of the town on financial markets as currency experts say it will gain a lot of ground against the euro.
Crisis makes Iceland best-value destination
Iceland and London are the world's best-value destinations thanks to the economic crisis, travel guide firm Lonely Planet said.
Brazil still fussy about fighter jet deal
Brazil and France are continuing talks over Brasilia's stated plan to buy fighter jets – but refused to say whether they were going ahead with the purchase.
• Sweden sweetens bid for Brazil fighter jet deal
• Saab's fight in Brazil 'not yet over'
Why bad leaders make you sick
Poor leaders increase not only the amount of sick leave taken at a workplace, but also the risk of sickness amongst employees later on in life, Swedish research shows.
Swedish airline Skyways sold for 1 krona
“Flying has generally never been an overly lucrative industry“, Skyway's Chairman said after he sold the company for 1 krona.
Nokia Siemens to cut 6,000 jobs
Finnish-German telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens will reduce its 64,000-strong workforce by up top 6,000 jobs.
Reinfeldt and Obama in climate deal talks
US President Barack Obama and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt expressed hope for an "important deal" at the upcoming Copenhaguen conference on climate change.
• Denmark's PM: Climate summit will fail
• Sweden tells US to step up on climate change
State-owned energy giant Vattenfall plans to build new nuclear reactors in Sweden.
