Uruguayan Defense Minister urges the bidding Ocean Patrol aircraft for the Navy and fought for FAU
(Defensa.com) The Minister of National Defense of Uruguay, Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro, appeared at the Senate Defence Committee to explain the priority needs for national defense. In his presentation he highlighted the urgent need on the part of the Air Force to renew the fleet of combat aircraft, whose life is irrevocably depleted in early 2018, and the necessary provision in the Navy for Ocean Patrol (OPV) who literally stood at three and a VTS network.
Regarding the priority to have the latter, he stressed that "if you have to go through dangerous channels in an estuary such as the Rio de la Plata, which must be of the busiest on the planet, with high commercial vessels cost, and no inverted commas "highway patrol" global banks to ensure these ships are going to get tough on their policies. That hurts our ports, our production and our exports and imports. Sovereignty rests in the sea if you are; if you are not, you lose. "
Three IPOs
Referring to the demand for means of ocean patrol for the Navy, Fernandez Huidobro said that "the Uruguay fishing quotas are lost in the case of tuna fished if not because FAO distributes annually and gives them to another country, even within our waters. This is a very suggestive phenomenon where the concept of sovereignty in the future will, because tomorrow it could apply the same reasoning in other areas than the sea. This is a personal comment that arises for me cause I fear that those facts. We think to patrol and properly care that new piece of map which would make the Uruguay largest in the maritime area on the ground, not counting the Antarctica- need three OPV-for its acronym in English, a type of ship ocean patrol is well known among sailors; It is not any kind of ship, or larger, or smaller, or in another form, is a versatile ship that can serve both civilian and military activities. It is armed, if you will, you can be more so still and his crew can consist of a few people; It has an onboard helicopter and can also be semi-rigid boats, can lead a contingent of ships and operations to address others. In turn, also have to have extra space to bring sick people or victims of maritime fire-think in plataformas- and at the same time, many wounded. It means that these characteristics are made for that kind of things, some of them new, for example, we have signed commitments against piracy. They are boats that leave more distance, have autonomy to spend more time away and take up a helicopter can not be any, but has to be able to charge enough people.
In military terms, it would have to be a medium helicopter. Why? Because if tomorrow we have to rescue the sea or on a platform where there were accidents and there are people to bail out, not only the boat is what pulls them out, but the helicopter has the advantage that comes faster, he takes out and driving the boat. It's all very well thought out and designed by engineers around the world, because in every country there and have more or less the same design with small variations. About-what I say openly, since it is common knowledge that you cannot have vessels without having helicopters that are apart, USD 70,000,000 each. Uruguay needed three. "
Fighters for the FAU
During his appearance, after exposing the naval needs, Huidobro referred to the need for fighters to the Uruguayan Air Force: "In this case we have another problem because in a few years we ran the A-37, already aircraft museum . In turn they were bought to fight the guerrillas in Uruguay; the guerrillas were arrested and are now ministers or ex-Presidents, and continue with the A-37, which is also used in the Vietnam War. We must also say that they no longer get parts for those planes or for the discontinued factories. The same thing happens with other aircraft we have. I'm talking about combat because in other respects the Air Force is fine. In combat what we could get and we can not throw more than that piolita. It is dangerous even to fly these aircraft. So we have to renew the fleet and now speaks very heavy figures in relation to that topic. I do not know if this has always been very expensive or more expensive now by technology, but for some years, when these things were planned and discussed in the nascent Chiefs of Defence, the National Armed Force and Air, among others, was that this could not go to the National Budget. The presence of resources-that say them and are visible-is a deterrent for any adventurer think, "In Uruguay, with little thing, I can wreak havoc on the sea in its territory and in its airspace ". I'm talking about an individual; I not think a foreign power.
Now continued welfare never saw that this could be included in a budget bill. Why? Because every company that has visited us, asked us audience, always she comes back with a bank. In fact, although I say exaggerating a bit, what we sell is a credit. United States and some European countries have their average yards unemployed. They have their working class and unemployed technicians and then there will finance the buy to implement immediately those shipyards. Make a boat of these takes about two years, although some countries offer some already made. Since we now know -because I read the magazines and gossip coming out in the press that much money can be awakened dance lawful and legal ambitions companies and representatives, and understand that the Senators have been visited lords their offices and the National Defense Commission. (...) have been visited and tenaciously visited, and that shows how the world economy works. We call for bids and that the wording of the statements have delegates from all political parties, not just the government. "
The minister surprised unexpectedly praising decisions on such issues for his political archrival and almost historic personal enemy, former President Jorge Batlle: "For there to be greater transparency in the event that we acquire these things, it is best to go to the system was used during the administration of Don Jorge Batlle because that way the ultra guarantee transparency. We speak of a public auction by the stockbrokers and the National Association of Auctioneers, but until last moment know who represents the corridor when the envelope is opened. In addition, it is broadcast on radio and television. " Recalling its military past, and even, recent processing hierarchy by fraudulent acts, Fernandez Huidobro said: "I already was in jail a long time and do not want to go to jail for a tender. It would be very sad and not the bear that jail because he would be there for a fool. "
Answering concerns of opposition senator Javier García, about the financing of this package of at least $ 500 million, the chief expressed his willingness to sell non-core properties Defense Ministry: "We must make a capital reorganization, because there barracks disturb the city that surrounds today and, in turn, the city does not allow them to operate because, at the time, were built on the outskirts of town and are now determined within it. Maybe you should sell or transfer them to a quartermaster, to give them some utility and in return, build a new headquarters. This means that we think just for a capital reorganization of the Portfolio. If it is to sell assets, which always do and where to acquire suitable assets, suddenly, in a few years, it will have to revise again because the country is moving and growing. That can be a source of funds. Another may be a budget, small annual amount that Uruguay always gives, for X years, to enrich a trust. "
The trust can also be supplied with a part of what companies pay survey. To a question from Senator German opposition also Coutinho, about what would be the future of the topic not obtained all the resources, the defense minister admitted the possibility of partial acquisitions or "take risks" do not even provide funding for startup .
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