Aerospace Industry in Latin America

Brazil should close full partnership in the space sector with the US
The Brazilian Space sector has been a strong field of misunderstandings. Julio Ottoboni analyzes the possibilities of the sector with an agreement with the United States.


Julius Ottoboni
Exclusive Defesanet


Much of the National Space Activities Program (PNAE), which guides the activities in the sector, can undergo profound changes with the entry of the United States in a deeper partnership with Brazil in the aerospace segment. The sector has been suffering frequent casualties, with project discontinuities and announcements that never materialize like having a new VLS rocket and satellite series.

The trend since the meeting of President Dilma Rousseff with Barack Obama, and a rapprochement of NASA and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), which has done little for the sector since the Lula government, when it became a political springboard and accommodation linked to the government of politicians.
Virtually destroyed since the accident with the VLS in 2003, the space sector has embittered 12 years of frustration, ads that do not materialize and extremely low budget parts, mostly unfulfilled and constant delays complaints and lack continuity in national projects, mainly related to satellites segment. (See Editorial A Float Salvadora?).

The level of distrust in the industry gave up by pronouncements that have been falling in empty propaganda just like made in 2011. Dilma Rousseff announced the launch of Geostationary Satellite Defence and Strategic Communications (SGDC) for 2014, and a budget allocation of R $ 716 million, something never cumprido.A is expected launch in the 2nd Semester 2016 and 2017. Operating SGDC is being produced by THALES consortium with participation of Telebras - VISIONARY (Embraer Defense & Security).

Or partnerships in the space sector with Argentina involving the company Cyclone Space, a binational with Ukraine, which yielded losses of over R $ 1 billion and resulted in more discredit to the Brazilian government. Defesanet exclusively reported that the complaint by the Agreement between Brazil and Ukraine in July (Exclusive - Brazil Breaks with Ukraine in ACS)

As president of the AEB, Brazil will launch by 2020 somewhere around 10 satellites produced in the country since meteorological, Earth observation, scientific to geostationary communication. According to experts, including the researchers themselves INPE, this projection is totally incompatible with reality.

This only would be able to be docked at the institute thought was something close to R $ 9 billion that the federal government is injecting the automotive manufacturers. Still miss hand labor and specialized companies qualified for such a high demand in this period of time.

The Alcantara Launch Center (CLA), in Maranhão, will return to its former purpose. Ie it will be a binational basis, where the United States and Brazil will share its future releases. The US government, according to sources of the own US government already has a detailed survey of Alcantara situation, made by technicians of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, and is in the process of choosing the companies that will transform the place in a center that meets all the needs for large rockets, commercial launches and would be among the best equipped in the world.

Alcantara, as well as the base of Kourou - Guyana Francesa-, is very close to the equator, which facilitates the placement of satellites with less expenditure of fuel and greater precision in the orbital positioning. In contrast, Brazil would return to projects in partnership with NASA and also in building the next International Space Station - since it was expelled from the current lack of compliance with the agreements.

Another possibility, that further concrete is the formation of a second Brazilian astronaut. Only this time it will be a civil university professor and doctoral and Ph.D. in the United States, which already has lines of research involving scientists from both countries.

Embargoes caused by the United States even after the signing of the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime The) for the purchase of parts for satellites and even buying supercomputers should disappear. For the resumption of VLS also the MTCR will follow a new playbook the case of Brazil. The rocket and the next satellite will have as great partner to NASA and JPL, plus dozens of US companies already established in Brazil and that may act in the producing centers of this type of technology.

The same procedure took place in Argentina with the Condor program. The Argentine space program was full custody of NASA. Even this process would facilitate the spatial partnership Brazil-Argentina- US in satelitária area.

The presentation of the Aeronautics Commander Lieutenant-Brigadier of the Air Nivaldo Luis Rossato, in the Commission's Public Hearing on Foreign Relations and National Defense (CREDN), the Senate, was teaching in exposing the inconsistencies of the Space Sector. And also of course to report the little effectiveness of the Strategic Space Sector Program (ESSP), a delegation from the National Defense Strategy (END).

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Dishon and SAFRAN to open two aerospace manufacturing centers

Journal of Queretaro
August 3, 2015

Queretaro attract two aerospace manufacturing centers of the French and Canadian aerospace firms Safran and Dishon, as part of an investment package amounting to one thousand 100 million dollars and that "will land" in the country.

According to Sergio Ornelas, organizer of Mexico's Aerospace Summit 2015, in projecting méxicoNOW also it confirms that Querétaro will host the V Edition of 3 and 4 September Summit, where he will visit specialists in North America.

Safran group, has more than 20 years in the country, in 2010 they settled in Queretaro with two new plants and the announcement of a new plant achieved its expansion in the production of parts for aircraft engines and landing gear in Mexico.

Meanwhile, Dishon company, dedicated to manufacturing high-precision, bet on the State an investment of $ 20 million, which will apply from 2015 to 2020.

In the package, it is also considered another Safran plant in Chihuahua; and Spectrum, a US firm is planning to build a business jet in Mexicali; the expansion of UTC (also US) in Mexicali; and Russian investment firm Avia Craft in Guadalajara.

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Brazil and Sweden formalize purchase agreements fighter

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The Brazil and Sweden the government formalize today at 10 am in London, the financial contracts of purchase of 36 supersonic fighters Gripen NG. The package also includes the acquisition of weapons of aircraft.


the signing will be at the Embassy of Brazil involving employees of the Swedish export credit agency, SEK, and the Treasury Attorney General. The total value is about US $ 5.4 billion with eight-year grace period and 15 years for payment.

A month ago, the operation was at risk: the government economic sector called for downward revision of interest rate of 2.54% per annum; proposed 2.19%. The supplier of the aircraft and technology will be transferred, Saab, tried an intermediate negotiating unsuccessfully. With the discussion carried out directly between governments, the process resulted in an agreement on 28 July.

For the Defence Minister Jaques Wagner, chief negotiator, understanding today officially ends the "cabinet step" and start "phase of the contract." The national partner is Embraer Defense and Security. The company, according to Wagner, is already preparing the infrastructure of the Gavião Peixoto plant, 300 km from São Paulo to receive the program. The first unit will be delivered in 2019 and the last five years later.

The credit will cover 100% of the commercial contract, without the need for down payment. "The approval of the project is a strategic decision to ensure the national sovereignty of the Brazilian air space," said Minister Jaques Wagner, noting that the actual payment of the financing takes place only after receipt of the last aircraft scheduled for 2024.

With the decision, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) will defense aircraft and air superiority compatible with the geopolitical importance of Brazil, opening the doors in the market of South America to Saab and subcontractors Brazilian companies.

The funding will allow the purchase of 36 Gripen NG, that will meet the operational needs of the FAB in the next 30 years.

Through a technology transfer program with Gripen NG Brazil may no longer be buyer to become supplier of next-generation combat aircraft. Announced in December 2013, the order covers logistical support and weapons.

The package provides for the manufacture of 15 of the 36 units in Brazil, including eight twin seaters, for pilot training and special missions. The model, created for the FAB, will be developed in partnership between Saab and Embraer.

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