Brazil looking to China, Europe, to modernize armed forces, U.S. MIC left in the cold

[rabs]

X-posting from a thread in LBN.

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Last night was reading O Estado de Sao Paulo and ran across the article below. What caught my attention was in the past, the MIC was top dog in selling its war machines to Latin America, especially the U.S.-backed, right-wing dictatorships.

Not any more, though, as most of the continent is now ruled by leftist democracies that have shied away from the United States. (This graf was for the folks in LBN, we here in this forum already knew this.(

Main points of the O Estado article:

Brazil is studying the purchase from China of state-of-the-art, digital anti-aircraft radar systems.

Modern air defense systems are needed for security for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. This is considered a priority by the armed forces. (Not to mention to protect the massive oil deposits discovered under off-shore Atlantic waters.)

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was in Bejing on April 12 where the issue was discussed with the China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation.

The Chinese option is not the only one for Dilma, military purchases for the ground forces are being explored also from England, Russia, Italy and France.

Brazil also will be modernizing its Air Force combat fleet. The options so far are France (Dasault) and Sweden (Saab). Purchases will be announced in 2012.

Obama was in Brazil last month trying to peddle F-16 (or F-18) but he got a cold reception.

Billions of dollars are at stake, and the MIC appears to be losing out big time.


------- O Estado article for those who read Portuguese -----

Brasil estuda aquisição de radares da China.

País precisa modernizar sistema de defesa antiaérea para a Copa e a Olimpíada; equipamento é considerado prioridade pelo Exército

Roberto Godoy - O Estado de S.Paulo
O Brasil precisa criar uma nova e moderna estrutura de defesa antiaérea para atender à necessidade da segurança da Copa de 2014 e dos Jogos Olímpicos de 2016, e pode comprar esse equipamento na China.

No dia 12 de abril, em Pequim, durante visita da presidente Dilma Rousseff, o assunto foi tratado entre representantes da China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC), a agência estatal responsável pelos equipamentos eletrônicos de Defesa e autoridades brasileiras. Em 2008, os chineses já haviam submetido uma proposta preliminar ao Comando do Exército.

Essa, todavia, não é a única possibilidade: os especialistas da Força terrestre estão pesquisando equipamentos junto a fornecedores da Inglaterra, França e Rússia. Itália e Rússia também estão na lista. Qualquer negócio só será tratado em 2012.

Article (Port.)

http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20110502/not_im...

[Judi Lynn]

1. Good for LatAmerican countries as they build their future. Wasn't possible for them earlier,

with the northern bully dividing and conquering over and over.

They would never be strong with their own super bully, back seat driver looking over their shoulder year after year, threatening to cut off financial support if they disappointed him.

It's exactly the right time to build solidarity. The small group at the "top" can't control the world forever. The people don't respect traitors, and powerful traitors can't keep them living in fear forever. Their history lives on in the hearts and minds of the children of their victims, eventually they fall.

Hope the remaining scum are swept away in our lifetimes.

Hate to see the President lose his voice there, as no doubt the right will claim he's bungled maintaining power over Latin America. They'll never accept anyone slipping out of their dirty, greedy, soul-less clutches. The only right thing to do is learn to act like civilized people, as suggested by Evo Morales when he said Latin America could use a partner, but not a master.

[naaman fletcher]

3. I'm glad too,

Bear in mind, however, that China is just as predatory as the US. It's important for Latin America to bear that mind and take a balanced approach to outside investment and help that does not put any one bloc or faction or nation in the drivers seat.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Even Peru is getting into the act: "Russia to deliver 3 combat helicopters to Peru next week"

Russia to deliver 3 combat helicopters to Peru next weekRussia to deliver 3 combat helicopters to Peru next week
02:44 03/05/2011

The Peruvian Air Force will receive next week three Russian combat helicopters intended for military operations against drugs trafficking and terrorism, Peru's defense minister said.

Last July, the Peruvian Defense Ministry and Russian state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed a contract for the sale of six Mi-171Sh Hip transport and two Mi-35P Hind E attack helicopters to the South American country. The deal is estimated at $107.9 million.

"Three Russian c helicopters will be delivered to Peru on May 9 and 10 and then sent to fight illegal drugs trafficking in the Valley of the Apurimac and Ene River," Defense Minister Jaime Thorne said.

The minister added that Peru "hopes to fulfill the contract with Russia by the end of the year and receive the remaining three helicopters."

More:
http://en.rian.ru/world/20110503/163825935.html