Russia is offering Brazil joint development of PAKFA (T-50) if the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force) chose the Su-35 for F-X2 competition. The proposal would help Brazil achieve aviation technology advancement and access to Russia’s stealth technology.
The F-X2 tender is Brazil’s second attempt to find a replacement for its ageing Northrop F-5 and Dassault Mirage 2000. Currently Swedish SAAB Gripen NG, American F/A -18 Super Hornet and French Dassault Rafale are shortlisted. An earlier competition, F-X, was cancelled in 2005 due to lack of funding. Sukhoi’s Su-35 is not on the shortlist and Russia hopes to change that by sweetening the deal with technology transfer with Su-PAKFA.
Russia is trying to get as much funding as possible by promising complete technology transfer to countries involved in the program. Russia and India are already developing a derivative of T-50 for the Indian Air Force called the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA.
A Russian delegation will visit Brazil and Peru on October 2013 to promote sales of Russian weaponry. Russia is hoping to sell the Su-35s, F-X2 tender for the purchase of 36 fighter jets worth $4 billion.
The T-50 or PAK-FA, which will be the main player in Russia’s future fighter fleet, it is a multirole fighter featuring stealth technology, super-manoeuvrability, super-cruise capability, and advanced avionics including an active electronically scanned array radar.
Do you think this strategy would work for the Russians? Would the deal cause concern for the Indians?
