The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Brazil of 28 Boeing [BA] F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, eight F/A-18Fs, 72 F414-General Electric [GE]-400 installed engines, a host of spare parts and munitions at an estimated value of $7 billion.
The notification is being done in advance of an expected announcement by Brazil as part of its F-X2 fighter competition.
A Boeing spokesman said last week an announcement is expected on the contract award sometime over the next month.
Boeing received a Request For Information from Brazil on June 12, 2008. The stated initial requirement was for 36 aircraft, with the potential for up to 120 aircraft (Defense Daily, Aug. 19).
According to the DSCA, Brazil wants proposals from several foreign suppliers, including the United States, to provide the next generation fighter for the Brazilian Air Force. Brazil has yet to select the U.S. Navy-Boeing proposal.
“This notification is being made in advance of receipt of a letter of request so that, in the event that the U.S. Navy-Boeing proposal is selected, the United States might move as quickly as possible to implement the sale,” DSCA said.
In addition to the aircraft and engines, if Brazil selects the U.S. Navy-Boeing proposal, Brazil will request four F414-GE-400 spare engines, 36 AN/APG-79 Radar Systems, 36 M61A2 20mm Gun Systems, 36 AN/ALR-67(V) three Radar Warning Receivers, 144 LAU-127 Launchers, 44 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), 28 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 28 AIM-9M SIDEWINDER Missiles, 60 GBU-31/32 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), 36 AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW), 10 AGM-88B HARM Missiles, and 36 AN/ASQ-228 (V2) Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pods. Also included are 36 AN/ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures. 40 AN/ALE-47 Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Systems, 112 AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoys, Joint Mission Planning System, support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, ferry and tanker support, flight test, software support, publications and technical documents, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support, according to DSCA.
“The proposed sale of F/A-18E/F aircraft will enhance Brazil’s tactical aviation capabilities. An increase in capability will be accrued primarily due to the larger number of aircraft and the larger range and endurance of the F/A-18E/F. Brazil will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its aircraft inventory,” DSCA said.
In addition to Boeing and GE, contractors will include Northrup Grumman [NOC], Raytheon [RTN] and Lockheed Martin [LMT].
Implementation of this sale will require approximately eight contractor representatives to provide technical and logistics support in Brazil for two years. U.S. government and contractor representatives will also participate in program management and technical reviews for one-week intervals twice semi-annually.
Along with the Brazilian competition, Boeing is bidding for strike fighter contracts in eight other countries. The company has submitted a comprehensive proposal to India in support of the company’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) offer of 126 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and will offer its Super Hornet as the next-generation fighter for Greece.