Nothing. The problem is the Brazilian government has no money, and the military is a prime target for 'cutting costs'. Since there is a non-insignificant choice the Armed Forces would mutiny if the cutting falls on their pensions, onto equipment it goes.
Nothing wrong with the planes, but used F-16s are dang near "Free to a good home"
I think they're already retired quite long ago.
The thing is though, some air forces require fresher airplanes, like Korea for example. During the delays concerning KF-X decisions, they were actively looking around for used Falcons and Hornets as a stop gap, but every available airframes were deemed too old/fatigued. Must be the case for severl other AF as well.
That must be truly dire situations though, considering the fact that their Mirage IIIs were already retired without proper replacement (apart from the second hand Mirage 2000s that were only just a stop gap). From what I understand, their first batch of Gripens are meant to replace F-5, so still no replacement for M IIIs.
Then again, they don't need any SSNs (or any aircraft carriers or air defence ships) if we simply consider their regional peers. What Brazil really wants is to become a regional power with force projection capability. It just hasn't gone their way until now because there has been a lack of fundamentals (economics) but we'll see how it pans put in the coming decades.
It already does, tbh.
I know that the Gripens were originally procured to replace the F-5s, but having the second hand F-16s as replacement makes sense in the short to possibly medium term if your goal is to pump up the available BVR capable airframe numbers (if you were senslng the tensions heating up?).
Gee, I wonder why the Middle East is/has always been so "crazy whacky" (!)
Strictly speaking, the first Gripen batch is replacing the Mirage IIIs - 1st Air Defense Group at Anápolis is the unit receiving them. Second batch would go to a F-5 unit. Problem is that, as usual in the Brazilian Armed Forces, everything needs replacement now. AIUI, numbers(66 airframes, IIRC) would partially cover the Mirage and F-5 fleet(to replace everything, there would need to be some 100-120 airframes, if I'm remembering right).
Oh, I see. Though one way or the other, the thing is that there's a capability gap that was left/will be left after the retirements.
www.janes.com
aseannow.com
www.armyrecognition.com
www.armyrecognition.com
www.twz.com
What happened to the new flaperon design? I see all of Brazil's aircraft including the lastest delivery are being delivered with the old flaperon design. Will they only refit it at some stage, or has the idea been dropped?
Here’s Why Saab’s Gripen E Fighter’s Wing Suddenly Grew In Size
The Gripen E is now flying with a more trapezoid-shaped wing of increased area and it’s set to become standard on production aircraft.
www.ainonline.com
www.flightglobal.com
That's almost certainly under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which is positively draconian. About as easy to break as the UK Official Secrets Act, with with fines that scale immensely.US DoJ opens an investigation on 2014 Brazilian Saab contract:
US government subpoenas Saab regarding Brazilian Gripen acquisition
A decade after Saab signed a contract with Brasilia to provide the Brazilian air force with Gripen E/F fighter jets, the US government is investigating the deal for unspecified reasons.
Not sure what is implied here regarding the F-39? A brand new aircraft with a very long service life ahead of it still and a very important client to Saab looking to sell even more Gripen E/F. Most certainly not a bad buy.
Brazil/BRICS warning shot?
I have heard this investigation was due to Boeing lobbying, but Boeing has more pressing things to lobby for at the moment, so it doesn't make much sense. Those who say that everything is the fault of 'the joos' are saying that this comes as a result of the Brazilian Defense Minister openly saying the acquisition program of wheeled howitzers for the Brazilian Army(won by the Israeli ATMOS) was on hold 'due to ideological reasons', but that doesn't pass the smell test either. A warning shot, as it were, is quite plausible, but what for?
I was talking about the speculation that Brazil was getting used f-16.
I've been looking for a basic side-by-side 3-views comparison as well but I haven't found anything really useful.
Sanction them, which'll push them further to China. So far they've been enjoying a lot of high-tech investments from China without much political commitment in exchange (slightly American-leaning non-alignment) to BRICS but they'll have to get more involved (which is fine in this day and age).
It sounds like an FCPA investigation, which means some bigass fines for SAAB to pay. Potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.
