Can the DoD Trust Brazil with American National Se

I am shocked the Gobberment would even consider this ...... but then we have out sourced most manufacturing to China ......

Can the DoD Trust Brazil with American National Security?

Should an important Air Force contract be awarded to a Brazilian company, despite our trade and foreign policy differences with that country?

Next month, the U.S. Air Force is expected to select a bid for a new aircraft to serve in a counterinsurgency attack role for the U.S. and its foreign partners. It seeks an inexpensive light attack and armed reconnaissance and training aircraft for countries that have little need or resources for supersonic jet fighters. One major competitor for the Air Force contract is the Brazilian company Embraer.

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The United States must also consider Brazil’s propensity for heavily subsidizing its corporations. Embraer is the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer and the producer of both civilian and military aircraft. It was founded in 1969 as a state-owned company. Even after Embraer’s supposed “privatization,” the Brazilian government continued to support the company through massive subsidies. These subsidies were condemned by a World Trade Organization panel.

Embraer enjoys an arm’s length relationship to the Brazilian government. There is a clause written in the company’s bylaws that gives the government authority at any time, for any reason, veto power over the production and supply of maintenance and replacement parts for military aircraft. This Golden Share provides the Brazilian government with veto power over key policies that would affect Embraer’s defense business.

There is good reason to think carefully about possible expansion of the U.S.-Brazil defense trade relationship. Brazil’s medium and long-term foreign policy orientation is uncertain. The trajectory of recent Brazilian foreign policy suggests that a strong, cohesive, and stable alliance with the United States is unlikely. Moreover, the future relationship between the Brazilian government and its private sector is unclear, unfair, and troubling.

When officials at the Department of Defense decide whether to award an important Air Force contract to a Brazilian firm, they should consider the far reaching U.S. national security implications. They should carefully scrutinize a decision that could strengthen Brazil’s defense industry while weakening U.S. aircraft manufacturers and the economy as a whole.

[Gilligan (Premo)]

On the flip side..the Super Tucano is the most advanced, capable and highly refined military prop plane in the world in its size range. Given our budget realities and the fact that 'we' would waste gobs of dollars to develop a similar aircraft, simply buying them outright would save huge sums of money.

But I bet that any such move gets cut off at the knees at some point by congress critters with the purse strings and a constituent company that thinks they might could develop something like the Tucano.

Originally Posted by Gilligan

On the flip side..the Super Tucano is the most advanced, capable and highly refined military prop plane in the world in its size range.

maybe ..... but is that any reason to get into bed with someone openly hostile to US Interests ...


even we all the problems dealing with Europe ... it seems to me, at 1st glance, this would be like contacting Russia or China for the next Generation of attack helicopters .... if we start pressing Amadinnajacket over Iranian Nukes, sudden their is a shortage of parts ..... for our shiny new toy


unfortunately the days of the skunk works, and practical aircraft design and common sense, are long gone ....

(if you have not read you should)

[Gilligan (Premo)]

Originally Posted by EmptyTimCup

maybe ..... but is that any reason to get into bed with someone openly hostile to US Interests ...

??. I do work there..headed back in a month or so. I've seen no indications of 'open hostility' toward the US and have seen instead a recent uptick in government encourqagement of the establishment of local operations by a whole range of foreign business entities. Rio is the latest 'hot ticket' for foreign investment and business development, especially anything to do with oil exploration and production.

did you read the article .......


Gobberment subsidized businesses ...... (of course as I type this I wonder how much US does the same)


something of a trade war going on .......