Should Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab win the current Brazilian FX-2 contest for a new fighter with its Gripen NG, a docu- ment leaked to media in Brazil indicates, part of the aircraft would be made in South Africa.

The document, obtained by the defence news website, Defesa@Net, shows that Saab is propos- ing that part of the airframe for Brazilian Gripens be built in South Africa. The Swedish company is also proposing the use of some South African mission equipment and weapons systems.

Saab owns 20% of South Africa’s Denel Saab Aerostructures (DSA), which produces major components for the Saab JAS39C and JAS39D Gripen fighters (the current production standard), namely the main landing gear unit (that is, the lower half of the central fuselage section), the rear fuselage and the pylons. The Gripen NG is a new version of the aircraft (NG standing for ‘new generation’) using new systems, and DSA is known to be hopeful that it would be able to produce components for the NG should the fighter win an order.

The FX-2 contest is being contended by three manufacturers: Boeing, of the US, with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; Dassault, of France, with the Rafale, and Saab. The programme would involve an initial order of 36 fighters. The offers are being evaluated according to five criteria – technology transfer to Brazil, transfer of mastery of the weapons systems to Brazil, offsets, technical/operational issues, and commercial benefits to Brazil.

The competition is fierce, and the situation has been muddied by comments by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in favour of the Rafale. Indeed, it appeared that France had won the contest when a statement was issued on September 7, Brazil’s national day, where the guest of honour was French President Nicholas Sarkozy, stating that the two countries had agreed to a partnership in terms of which Brazil would buy Rafales and France would acquire Embraer KC-390 transport and tanker aircraft, now being developed by Brazil. (DSA also hopes to participate in the KC-390 programme).

Then, on September 8, Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim released a brief statement that the FX-2 competition was not over. Defesa@Net editor Nelson During tells Engineering News that the apparent victory of the Rafale was actually very conditional – Brazil will buy the Rafale if the French meet certain conditions: cut the price (not only the purchasing price but also the operating costs) of the Rafale and provide a real partnership with the Brazilian aerospace industry.

The result is that the competition is even more fierce than it was before September 7. It is seen as a two-horse race, between Dassault and Saab.

Boeing is not seen to have a real chance, partly because the US will not allow the kind of technolgy transfer Brazil seeks. (For example, the French are talking of “unlimited” technology transfer to Brazil, the Swedes are offering “complete” technology transfer, while the Americans talk of “necessary” technology transfer).

Saab’s proposals to Brazil are clearly based on, and developed from, its offset programme for South Africa. In addition to complete technology transfer, the Swedes are offering Brazil national autonomy through joint development of the Gripen NG, independence in the selection of weapons and systems integration, and production of up to 80% of the Gripen NG airframes in Brazil with a full assembly line. Brazil would also produce 40% of Gripen NGs ordered by other countries. Saab would also become a partner in the KC-390 programme.

Gripen’s main weakness is that it uses a modified version of an American engine, the GE F414 (but made in Sweden, by Volvo Aero). To get around this, Saab is offering to set up a full engine maintenance facility in Brazil.