Brazilian Government Source Says NSA Spying Squashed Boeing's Chances For The Contract

The Brazilian government has announced the selection of Gripen NG for its long-deferred FX-2 air force replacement program. The announcement will be followed by negotiations with the Brazilian Air Force aiming at a procurement of 36 Gripen NG airplanes. 

The offer presented to the Brazilian Government by Saab includes Gripen NG, sub-systems for Gripen NG, an extensive technology transfer package, a financing package as well as long term bi-lateral collaboration between the Brazilian and Swedish Governments.
 
After finalized negotiations an agreement can be reached between Saab and Brazil and an order for Gripen NG placed.
 
”I am extremely proud of the confidence that the Brazilian government has placed in Gripen NG. Saab regards the announcement today as a strong commitment of the Brazilian Government and we are looking forward to provide the Brazilian Air Force with the world-leading and most affordable fighter. Furthermore, this announcement is very significant for the collaboration between Brazil and Sweden. We stand prepared to start the industrial collaboration as planned, with its positive effects for Brazilian industry”, says Saab CEO Håkan Buskhe.

The French news service AFP reports that Saab beat out bids from Boeing and Dassault for the contract when most analysts expected a battle between the two for the business. Brazil has been working towards a fleet-replacement program for more than 10 years.

A source close to Dassault said that the prototype Rafale was the most expensive of the three airplanes under consideration.

Boeing had offered the F/A-18 for consideration by Brazil, but Reuters indicates that reports of U.S. NSA intelligence gathering against Brazil may have played a role in derailing Boeing's bid for the contract. The Super Hornet had been considered a front-runner until earlier this year, but a Brazilian government source speaking on condition of anonymity said "The NSA problem ruined it for the Americans." The NSA's intelligence collecting included personal phone calls from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, and that, the source said, led to a lack of trust in the American company. 

(Gripen NG image provided by Saab)

FMI: www.saabgroup.com/en