Brazilian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Putin: Brazil is one of Russia's key partners in Latin America

QUESTION: How do you assess the status and prospects of the strategic partnership between Russia and Brazil? What key issues and specific proposals are you planning to discuss in Brasilia?
Russian president to visit Cuba, Argentina, Brazil during Latin America tour

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Our bilateral cooperation is of strategic importance, as Brazil is a responsible member of the international community whose political influence is steadily increasing; it is also the largest country in Latin America and one of the leading economies in the world. It is enough to mention its active participation in BRICS, the G20 and a number of Latin American regional organisations (CELAC, MERCOSUR, UNASUR).

We support Brazil as a deserving and strong candidate for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. I am sure that this powerful and fast-developing country is destined to play an important role in the emerging polycentric world order.

I want to emphasise that Brazil is one of Russia's key partners in Latin America. We have long-standing relations of friendship, mutual respect and trust. We are actively developing political dialogue, defence, scientific, technological and humanitarian cooperation, as well as economic and investment ties.

Over the last ten years, bilateral trade has grown almost three-fold and reached $5.5 billion in 2013. Our companies maintain close contacts through the Brazil-Russia Business Council. The citizens of our countries no longer need visas to travel. Dozens of Russia's best universities that joined Brazilian educational programme Science without Borders are ready to welcome students from Brazil. Cultural exchanges have become a regular practice.

During the visit, we want to discuss areas for further developing cooperation and to outline new joint projects in energy, investment, innovation, agriculture, science and technology. We plan to sign a large package of documents relating to a variety of industries, including between specialised agencies, public and private companies, and research and educational institutions.

QUESTION: The current level of economic and trade relations between Russia and Brazil is far below the potential that has been proclaimed by the countries' leaders. What steps do you consider necessary to accelerate the realisation of this potential? What are the obstacles that slow us down and prevent us from taking bilateral trade to a completely new level?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Indeed, despite the good results achieved, there is still an untapped potential in trade and economic cooperation with Brazil. Moreover, there was a decrease in bilateral trade (3.3% in 2013), caused by global economic instability. In order to address the situation we need to diversify our trade ties by increasing the share of high-tech products and engineering goods, as well as by developing cooperation in aviation, energy and agriculture.

Russian companies are interested in the Brazilian market. Our countries' businesses have launched a number of successful investment projects in energy, engineering and pharmaceutical industries. For example, Russia’s Rosneft and the Brazilian HRT oil and gas company are jointly exploring and producing hydrocarbons in the Solimões river basin. In the state of Santa Catarina, the Power Machines corporation is setting up production of hydro turbines of up to 100 MW for their subsequent delivery to the markets of Brazil and other MERCOSUR countries. BIOCAD is developing a research, education and training centre in Brazil, designed to produce modern innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer.

I am sure that such projects will help bring our bilateral trade and economic cooperation to a more mature level, which meets the current and future capabilities of our developing countries.

QUESTION: Brazil will pass the baton of hosting a world football championship to Russia. Are you following the FIFA World Cup? Which part of Brazil's experience in preparing and hosting the event has attracted your attention and can be taken on board while organising the 2018 World Cup?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: I try to follow the World Cup as far as my work schedule allows. The Latin American countries’ teams have put on a display of football that has real flare and talent. Unfortunately, our team did not leave the group, but, in my opinion, they tried their best.

At the invitation of Brazil and FIFA Presidents, I am going to visit the final match of the Championship to attend the ceremony of passing the baton from Brazil to Russia. In 2018, Russia will host this most popular global sporting event for the first time in its history.

In February-March, we successfully hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi and know exactly what a challenge it is to organise such a huge event. We are analysing Brazil’s experience very carefully. Your country is yet to host the Olympic Games in 2016. Representatives of several ministries and organisations, including the Ministry of Sports and the Russia-2018 Organising Committee, are in constant contact with Brazilian colleagues. They have already visited Brazil and I am sure they will go there again more than once.

It is worth noting that Russia plans to take the FIFA World Cup a step further in some areas. For example, we passed a federal law establishing a special visa regime for foreigners who help organise the 2018 Championship, and enabling not only the official participants, such as the athletes, referees, coaches and others, but also the fans to visit Russia without visas right before and during the competition. The history of football championships has never seen anything like this before.

I am sure that the World Cup in Brazil will be a bright page in the history of football. I wish the Brazilian organisers every success in completing it. As for us, in 2018, we will do everything possible to give the world an unforgettable football celebration and show genuine Russian hospitality.

QUESTION: How much attention will be paid during the talks in Latin America to the issues of the modern world order, which enables some players on the international arena to unilaterally claim significantly more extensive rights, including to spy even on those leaders that they call partners and to hack their phones?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: The 21st century world is globalised and interdependent. Therefore, no state or group of countries can unilaterally tackle major international problems and any attempts to build a separate “oasis of stability and security” are doomed to failure.

In order to meet numerous challenges and threats we have to stop trying to impose development models on other countries. This approach has repeatedly proven its ineffectiveness. It does not just fail to facilitate conflict resolution, but leads to instability and chaos in international affairs.

Today, it is especially important to consolidate the international community’s efforts to ensure equal and indivisible security, as well as to resolve disputes trough the application of international law and with the central coordinating role of the UN.

As for the facts of cyber espionage that you mentioned, it not only amounts to overt hypocrisy in relationships between allies and partners, but also a direct violation of the state's sovereignty, an infringement on human rights and an invasion of privacy. We are looking forward to jointly developing an international information security system.


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Russia's Power Machines acquires 51% stake in Brazilian Fezer

Russia’s largest power plant engineering company has thus strengthened its presence in Latin American countries

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Power Machines, Russia’s largest power plant engineering company, acquired 51% of shares in Brazilian engineering firm Fezer in a move to strengthen its presence in Latin American countries, the company reported Monday.

The cost of the deal was not announced.

Fezer, founded in 1948, is focused on producing various types of woodworking machines. The new enterprise will change its name to Power Machines Fezer S/A.

Power Machines has international experience in the field of design, manufacture and complete delivery of the equipment for thermal, nuclear, hydraulic and gas-turbine power plants. 100% of the company’s shares are owned by structures of Russian businessman Aleksei Mordashov.

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Rosneft Clinches Exploration Deal in

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Russia's largest energy producer has signed a deal with the Brazilian company PetroRio to operate the exploration of sites in the Amazon's Solimoes Basin.

Rosneft, the world's largest publicly-traded petroleum company, has raised its stake in an oil and gas prospecting venture in the Brazilian to 100 percent, giving it complete control over two onshore gas and oil leases in the Solimoes Basin of the River.

The Russian company increased its stake after agreeing to a deal with Brazilian oil producer PetroRio, also known as HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA.

Rosneft acquired its 45 percent stake in the Solimoes project after its takeover of the oil company TNK-BP in 2011, which made it the world's largest oil producer.

In November 2013, Rosneft Brazil and PetroRio made an agreement for Rosneft to obtain an additional six percent in the Solimoes project, raising its stake to 51 percent and giving it the status of operator of the project.

The deal was finally approved by Brazil's National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels in July of last year. According to the July announcement from Rosneft, the transaction amounted to $96 million, with Rosneft also acquiring four heli-transportable rigs from the Brazilian company. In addition, Rosneft provided PetroRio with a loan facility of up to $40 million to finance HRT investments inSolimoes for a period of 12 months.

"The Solimoes project establishes Rosneft in Brazil, a country with major upstream growth opportunities and synergies with Rosneft operations in Venezuela," Rosneft stated.

According to media reports, the latest deal between the two companies is due to be announced on Monday and is valued at $55 million.

Rosneft reports that the resources of the Solimoes project consist of 34 million tons of oil and 73 billion cubic meters of gas, according to the project's prospecting works, which have been carried out over an area of 44.5 thousand square kilometers in the basin to date. The company says that 75 percent of the basin's area remains untapped, with the potential for extracting 100 million tons of oil equivalent exist, while gas reserves of 28-37 billion cubic meters have been confirmed.

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Very disappointing new from Brazil

Iveco could suspend the assembly of the Guarani if Brazil does not allocate more financial resources to weather


(Defensa.com) Iveco Latin America are considering paralyze activities at its plant in Brazilian defense vehicles in Lagoa Santa. The suspension of activities could occur next month if the company does not receive new orders for the Guarani armored Brazilian Army. The move would be one more consequence of the harsh measures proposed by the federal government in search of a fiscal adjustment. An official announcement is planned cuts in the budget of Brazil, according to estimates by the Finance Minister Joaquim Levy, who is expected to exceed 25,000 million.

The contingency is related to the government's need to foster a rebalancing of public accounts in order to achieve the primary surplus target. For 2015 the goal is to save 1.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the entire public sector (government, states, municipalities and public empreas), equivalent to R $ 66.3 billion. Through its press office, Iveco reported that the closure of the unit is not confirmed, while admitting that it might be necessary because the limit for the maintenance of the production line date without new orders ends next month. The work would be suspended until the resumption of investment by the Brazilian Army, the only buyer of the vehicle.

However, the manufacturer explains that the detention of activity has nothing to do with the operations of the unit production of light and heavy commercial vehicles. The announcement signals that are distinct and separate operations and they continue normally until defining what about the armored unit will be decided. The factory was opened in June 2013 with initial investment of $ 40 million, in order to begin to meet the demand of the Brazilian Army. Since then, nearly 140 units of the model were given. The plant has capacity to produce 115 units per year, reaching 200 on additional requirements.

The manufacturer at times has been contacted by countries like Argentina (which promised to buy 14 units), Chile, Colombia and Angola, who were interested in acquiring the Guarani model. However, the only firm contract execution occurred with the Brazilian Army, which also has interests in marketing is outside the vehicle. There is a current letter of intent with Lebanon for an order integrated with other products Iveco.

In 2007, Iveco won the tender to provide, by 2030, a batch of 2044 armored in different versions- the Army. Guarani model represents the Armored Personnel Carrier Medium on Wheels (VBTP-MR) family and replaces the previous models Engesa Urutu, currently in use in the Brazilian Armed Forces, some being slightly modernized and inspected. The content of the new vehicles is 90% national, with suppliers from different regions of Brazil. Today, supply chain has about 102 suppliers, generating 300 thousand direct jobs and indirect.

The manufacturer confirmed the contribution of 220 million dollars as a result of domestic commercial sales until 2016. The complex of Sete Lagoas is already receiving most of the funds for investment in high-tech equipment; research projects, development and innovation, as well as the construction of an industrial district of suppliers and a testing ground, in regard to conventional vehicles. Only investments in research, development and innovation approaching 80 million, while the total investment in the field of evidence in the municipality of the region reaches 8 million. The other 155 million is being divided among all remaining group's operations in Brazil, while one decison for the Defence division is awaited.




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Brazil Budget Not Conducive To Reality, FinMin Says


Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (R) and her Finance Minister Joaquim Levy. Ignore the rumors that he’s a goner. That’s all anti-Dilma talk. As much as she dislikes the bitter pill Levy is forcing the country to swallow, a deteriorating economy is not good for her Workers Party. (Photo by EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)

Brazil’s federal budget needed some slicing and dicing in the financial editing rooms in the capital city last month because it was “nowhere close” to reality, Finance Minister Joaquim Levy said on Monday.

The Brazilian economy is going through a serious economic correction. With the commodity super cycle over, Brazil got hammered by keeping rates artificially low for too long in the first term of president Dilma Rousseff. At the time, the government was fighting a “currency war” against a weak U.S. dollar that led to hot money flowing into Brazil’s currency and debt markets. A stronger currency didn’t match the fundamentals of a weakening economy, cutting Brazil out of some competition in foreign markets, and leading to an increase in imports as local manufacturers could not compete with similar product makers abroad. Inflation rose. The economy slowed even more. Now there’s hell to pay. And Brazil’s FinMin is taking a battle ax to the government’s planned budget, released last month.

Levy said the latest round of budget cutbacks is due to a shortfall in revenues.

“Due to the fact that government receipts are not close to what we budgeted for last month, and for various reasons, it is necessary to cut wherever we can,” he said, noting that he would be mindful not to cut where growth may be impeded. One sticking point will be on the government’s PAC programs; large infrastructure programs funded by the Brazilian National Development Bank, or BNDES. As it is, cuts to some of these behemoth projects — particularly those led by scandal-clad Petrobras — have been put on hold and have led to thousands of lay offs. Many of the construction firms involved in the Petrobras scandal have cut back on other areas of their business, including commercial and residential real estate. That’s taken a little pin to Brazil’s decade long credit-induced housing boom.

The market is watching Levy closely. In the beginning of the year, his tenure looked uncertain. His economic background, from the pro-American style of slash and burn economics at the University of Chicago is the complete opposite of the more socialist leanings of Dilma. Although Dilma is a close protege of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula was more pragmatic, and lucky, as the China-led commodity boom and Petrobras oil discoveries made Brazil one of the sexiest economies on the planet. Everyone wanted to be there in the mid-2000s. Now, it’s become a flea market for bargain shoppers.

Word on the Street is that so long as Levy is running the economy, and Dilma is taking a back seat, there is hope for Brazil next year. ”It’s a diverse economy. There’s a lot of good value here. I think we’re close to bottom and I think that as difficult as Dilma is, I don’t think she wants Levy to go,” says Fernanda de Lima, CEO of Gradual Investimentos on Faria Lima in Sao Paulo.

Rumors continue to fly that Levy is bound to leave his post. Most of this is Brasilia bar room chatter from the anti-Workers’ Party crowd. Levy said today that he is not leaving the Finance Ministry.

Some of the budget cuts are long term structural, including concessions for major infrastructure projects and oil development, as well as a reduction in interest rate subsidies at big state banks. This remains unclear, but it is either going to be a reduction in the BNDES lending portfolio — it’s already bigger than the World Bank’s — and/or reductions to mortgage subsidies to lenders.

“We need to see how we are going to finance long term projects now that the model based on public resources has ended. Those public resources are done,” Levy told the press today.

Brazil’s federal debt load rose about half a percent in April to R$2.45 trillion, or roughly $900 billion. The number is based on Treasury debt used to in finance government activities. Mostly all of Brazil’s debt is local currency, or roughly R$2.3 trillion, meaning the country is at a very low risk of default. It has over $320 billion in foreign currency reserves, which is more than the $40 billion it owes foreign bond holders in dollars, according to Treasury.

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Brazil delivers to Paraguay military trucks


(Defensa.com) The Brazilian Army will deliver to Paraguay this Wednesday, May 27, 20 Mercedes Benz trucks modernized, type MB LAK 1418 4x4. The assignment of the vehicles is part of a cooperation agreement on defense between the two countries promote bilateral cooperation envisaged in the area and strengthen issues of mutual interest, such as stability, regional security and the consolidation of democracy. The event will be held at the Mirador Landfill in the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant, which are co-owners Brazil and Paraguay.

Will present the Brazilian army commander, Army General Eduardo Dias da Costa Villas Boas, and the commander of the Paraguayan Army, Major General Luis Oscar González Cañete as well, CEOs of Itaipu Binacional, James Spalding (Py) and Jorge Samek.

The main characteristics of the lorries are 366th OM-6 cylinder engine, 5958 cc, 184 hp at 2600 rpm and 1600 rpm mkgf 60.2; MB box G3 / 60-5 with 5-speed; VG500 transfer case - 3W [1.64], Front Differential: AL-4/5 D4, 3 rear differential: HL4 / 26 D9,2 ou HL4 / 27 D-10, wheelbase: 4.20 m. and load capacity 6 tons. It is anticipated that defense cooperation between the two countries to be increased in the near future, not only in regard to the transfer of military equipment, also in terms of training and technology transfer.

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Embraer delivers first modernized A-4 to the Brazilian Navy


(Defensa.com) The ceremony of the first unit of the AF-1 fighter modernized (AF-1B) for the Brazilian Navy has taken place in the industrial plant of Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Embraer. The AF-1 program (Brazilian naval designation for the McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk) provides for the revitalization and modernization of 12 subsonic jets - nine AF-1 cars and three AF-1A tandem. The AF-1 is a suitable aircraft to intercept and attack, operated from an aircraft carrier as a vector to carry out air defense fleet. The modernized for the Navy aircraft received new navigation systems, weapons, power generation, onboard computer, tactical communication and sensors, including a next-generation multimode radar. These devices, together with the structural renovation, allow these fighters come to operate until 2025.

The Embraer Modernization Program also includes the provision of briefing and debriefing stations that are already used in training and competition pilots Squadron VF-1 Falcão, allowing better utilization, reduced costs and greater efficiency in planning and executing missions. Of the 12 fighters that will be modernized in three Embraer delivered this year, six in 2016 and three in 2017.

The first ceremony was attended apparatus Commander of the Brazilian Navy, Admiral-of-Fleet Eduardo Leal Ferreira and naval officers of the High Command.

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Miragedriver said:

Embraer delivers first modernized A-4 to the Brazilian Navy

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Good to see this.

So everyone can know (and I believe we have posted this before), these A-4s are being significantly modernized and they will as a result be very decent for operating oof of the Brazilian carrier.

When its completed, the AF-1B and Cs will have just about the same capability as the Brazilian Air Force's upgraded F-5EM/FM aircraft, which, in my estimation is by far the best F-5 upgrade modernization on the planet.

The upgrade program will cost over $10M per aircraft, with the 12 aircraft being modified...including 9 single seat Skyhawks and 3 two seat Skyhawks. The upgrade will include a totally new avionics suite, including an upgraded glass cockpit and heads up display (HUD), along with full hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls.

Israeli defense electronics Elta will supply the proven "2032" radar system. This radar, which is highly compact and scalable to multiple fighter platforms, will give Brazil's Skyhawks a truly modern beyond visual range intercept capability, not to mention confident ground and surface mapping and targeting abilities. An upgraded digital radar warning receiver (RWR) will be added as well, for enhanced survivability and situational awareness.

New munitions will also end up under the Skyhawk's wings, which may include Brazil's own MAA-1B "Pirahana" short-ranged air-to-air missile and/or Israel's highly capable "Python 4." There is even talk that the Israeli "Derby" beyond visual range air-to-air missile will be part of the Skyhawk's new arsenal. The Derby has a range of about 20-25 miles and would be the perfect pairing with the jet's new Elta pulse Doppler radar.

A Skyhawk packing a pair of Pythons and a pair of Derbys would be a formidable opponent, especially if the jet were also carrying one of Elta's self protection jamming pods.

The AF-1's selection of air-to-ground weapons will also become smarter with locally designed Mectron SMKB-82 500lb and SMKB-83 1000lb laser guided bombs being fielded with the updated jet, along with a laser targeting pod in the future...perhaps the the Rafael LITENING III pod which is already in service with Brazilian forces.

Anti-ship missiles and possibly an air-to-ground missile are rumored to be on the shopping once these aircraft are upgraded and modernized..


The aircraft will also have their engines, power generation and wiring systems totally overhauled to as-new condition. The jet's cumbersome oxygen bottles will be replaced by a modern on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS). New data-link systems and radios will also be added for networked operations between AF-1s and other Brazilian combatants.

THis upgrade, which will cost Brazil over $120 million in total, will make the AF-1 Skyhawks, like their F-5M/.EM cousins, the most sophisticated and modernized A-4s in the world.

The Brazilians are doing a good job taking older aircraft like the F-5 and A-4 and making them very capable in today's environment.

Here's a GREAT site about the Brazilian AF-1 Program:

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A4s and f5s are great planes... Easy to fly and maneuver. For many decades the Navy used them for DACT even against newer planes like the bugs and tomcats.
The brazilians basically gave them bvr capabilities with the new avionics suite and missiles to match.
They should hold their own in South America where the the threat matrix is somewhat less sophisticated than say Europe or Asia and do well there but I wouldn't fly an a4 against the latest gen SUs and MiGs though lol no matter how updated.
I think that was a good choice and good ROI the brazilians made. For less than the cost of a single brand new jet, you basically get couple squadrons of very versatile 'new' old jets that can hold their own against anyone within their theatre of operations.

kwaigonegin said:

A4s and f5s are great planes... Easy to fly and maneuver. For many decades the Navy used them for DACT even against newer planes like the bugs and tomcats.
The brazilians basically gave them bvr capabilities with the new avionics suite and missiles to match.
They should hold their own in South America where the the threat matrix is somewhat less sophisticated than say Europe or Asia and do well there but I wouldn't fly an a4 against the latest gen SUs and MiGs though lol no matter how updated.
I think that was a good choice and good ROI the brazilians made. For less than the cost of a single brand new jet, you basically get couple squadrons of very versatile 'new' old jets that can hold their own against anyone within their theatre of operations.

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Not to digress on this subject, but I feel the same way about the super modified FTC-1000G. a single seat version of the aircraft with the avionic packages listed above could be a very potent aircraft in this regional theater.

Yes I know that this picture is just a model, but the PLAN is already fly an aircraft with an identical wing configuration. The difference on this model is the wingtip AAM


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