Central/South American Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

IANS via The Business Standard, December 21, 2013

Sweden will loan Brazil several Gripen NG fighter jets, the kind the South American country recently purchased from Swedish firm Saab, in time for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a media report said.

The jets will be loaned to Brazil by the Swedish Air Force, since the 36 purchased won't be ready for delivery until 2023, reported Xinhua Friday citing Brazilian news website G1. Rio 2016 Summer Olympics are to be held in Rio de Janeiro between Aug 5-21

Brazil made the purchase to upgrade its air force fleet of Mirage jets, which are about to be retired.

Brazilian Air Force Brigadier Jose Augusto Crepaldi Affonso, who headed the decision to buy the Swedish jets, over US or French-made ones, told G1 that six to 12 jets will be lent to Brazil in time to bolster security during the summer games.

Asked if the jets will be in Brazil in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, to be hosted by 12 Brazilian cities in June and July, Crepaldi said it was unlikely, as the negotiations on the loan have yet to take place.

"I think the chances are too small, around 20 percent," said Crepaldi. "But for the Olympic Games, they will certainly be here."

Brazil announced its decision to buy fighter jets from Saab, in a deal worth $4.5 billion, Wednesday, saying it took into account cost and technology transfer.

Separately, Saab said Friday that it could eventually export to other countries jets that it manufactures in Brazil.

Company Vice President Lennart Sindahl, in an interview with Brazilian daily O Globo, said Saab will set up a factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo state, to produce the Gripen jets.

According to Sindahl, after manufacturing the 36 jets bought by Brazil, the plant could go on to build planes for export to Latin America, Africa and Asia.

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Miragedriver said:

IANS via The Business Standard, December 21, 2013

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I think this is a good idea. It will give at least 6-12 pilots a chance for some air time and experience with the Saab Gripen fighters before the delivery date in 2023.

Fall mauvers in Patagonia















I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

Foreign sale from United States to deliver of 3,335 M1152 HMMWV Humvee to Mexico.
The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Mexico for M1152 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $556 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 16, 2014.


AM General M1152 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs)


The Government of Mexico has requested a possible sale of 3,335 M1152 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, communication equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $556 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner. Mexico has been a strong partner in combating organized crime and drug trafficking organizations. The sale of these HMMWVs to Mexico will significantly increase and strengthen its capability to provide in-country troop mobility to provide security.

Mexico intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing army architecture to combat drug trafficking organizations. This will contribute to the Mexican military’s goal of updating its capabilities, while further enhancing interoperability between Mexico and the U.S. and among other allies. Mexico will have no difficulty absorbing these vehicles into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be AM General in South Bend, Indiana. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require at least four U.S. Government or contractor representatives to travel to Mexico for a period of three years to provide operational and maintenance training.



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A Colombian Air Force (FAC) KFIR C-10 flying along side with a KC B-767 aka "JUPTIER"



Textron Marine & Land Systems officials are hoping to expand their Commando Advanced 4x4 armoured vehicle programme in Colombia by, among other things, branching beyond cavalry units.


The Colombian military has purchased a total of 67 Commando vehicles - 39 were bought in an original order without turrets and another 28 were more recently ordered with 40 mm/.50 calibre remote turrets - and Textron expects to finish building platforms from the second order sometime in March, Mike Gelpi, vice-president land systems and life cycle support at Textron Marine & Land Systems, told IHS Jane's .
Turrets are to be retrofitted on the original Commandos as well, he added.


Gelpi said that Colombian cavalry units are the main customer within Colombian army, and the company hopes to expand to other missions and units in the country, as well as expand elsewhere in the region.


Other Latin American countries have expressed interest in the Commando, he said, but none of the discussions are "mature enough to talk about at this point".
The Colombians, meanwhile, are exploring means of logistics support for the fleet by ordering spares and requesting two field service representatives for two years.


According to Gelpi, the army there has been pleased with the Commandos and has been employing the vehicles in day and night operations that range from jungle to highway terrain.


The 4x4 vehicles have a unique balance in survivability and off-road mobility, and weigh around 36,000 lbs (16,200 kg). The platforms have a V-shaped hull bottom and 360-degree direct fire. According to Textron, the Commando Advanced can be upgraded to higher crew
protection levels through an Enhanced Survivability package.


The Colombian Army ordered its first tranche of Commandos in 2009 and that order was filled by July 2010, equipping three armoured support squadrons with troop transport variants and command-post units. A second order for 28 came in August 2013.


Colombian Military units:
Army Aviation





Comandos





Navy



I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

Young Ladies in the Colombian Military





And yes my friends, this is the land that produced Sofía Vergara…………….. I’m sorry, I drifted off in thought for a while.




I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

K-8 Air Force Bolivia

[video=youtube_share;o1IHAi1erpk]http://youtu.be/o1IHAi1erpk[/video]

[video=youtube_share;-Hj7sRUYXzI]http://youtu.be/-Hj7sRUYXzI[/video]


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More Bolivian K-8s











I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

Some rare photographs of more professional units in the Argentine military:

Mechanized infantry. The Bofors AT-4, few received and rarely seen


A CZ-700 in use with UN troops



A Remington M-40


Comandos (Buzos Tácticos)


Mountain troops




I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

An old P3 Orion Argentina Navy flying over Tierra Del Fuego. This picture was taken in summer. You should see what winter is like.



I will now get back to bottling my Malbec