The Swedish Government denies pressure to his Brazilian counterpart to sign the contract for the Gripen NG FAB before elections
(defensa.com) Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, said the sale of 36 Gripen aircraft to Brazil by 5,400 million dollars is "a business that goes far beyond the plane" and denied he had pressured the Brazilian government to sign the contract with Saab before the second round of the presidential election between Dilma Rousseff and Aetius Neves, held last October 26.
The Air Force finalized its purchase of 28 Gripen E (cars) and eight F version (tandem), precisely on October 24. The 36 aircraft are still in development and the contract provides for the transfer of technology to the domestic industry can produce locally this new generation fighter. They begin to will arrive in 2019, with final delivery date of the batch in 2025. In an interview with Brazilian journalists in Stockholm Löfven said it was "an agreement between the company [Saab] and the country. I was informed about the transaction in general, not specifically for the moment. "
The prime minister, elected last September, refused to say if 5,400 million would be an exaggerated value to spend on fighter jets, while Brazil has serious problems in other sectors, while noting that Sweden also increase spending on defense in the coming years due to regional issues, such as the defense of the Baltic and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
"The first thing I would say is that Brazil is a democratic country and made his own decision. We will also increase defense spending in the coming years, after an analysis of the regional situation," he said. "Brazil has to do its own analysis and can not comment at all, is a subject of particular country. we believe that when Brazil made its assessment and realized that I needed the tickets, we had a good aircraft. it is important and is the cornerstone of business. but there is much more involved: about technology, innovation, industrial cooperation that our authorities are building in São Bernardo do Campo This is the future, are the new jobs, not just military purchases is technology in different areas and.. believe that this cooperation is very good for both countries. "
Löfven said the agreement on the Gripen makes Brazil a strategic partner in the industrial area of Sweden. "I definitely believe that. The business is much more than an airplane. The cooperation we are starting in São Bernardo do Campo is a long-term commitment," he said.
At the same time, the Centre for Research and Innovation Swedish-Brazilian Clearing (CISB) meets today in Sao Paulo with representatives of companies, universities and research centers to discuss opportunities for strengthening cooperation between two countries in the areas of research and innovation, in addition to the presentation of success stories. The fourth annual meeting of CISB with the participation of members of central Brazil and Sweden, Saab, Volvo Cars, SENAI, Royal Institute of Technology, among others, and partners such as the ITA, elmunicipio Curitiba and Lindholmen Science Park .
Immediately thereafter, on Thursday and Friday this week, will take place on 1st Wokshop Swedish-Brazilian Aeronautics and Defence in the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), São José dos Campos. The event is organized by the ITA itself and CISB, aiming to stimulate and expand exchanges between Brazilian and Swedish researchers on topics related to innovation and technological development.
They will present around 300 participants attending conferences and debates of scientists, researchers, representatives from universities, governments and development agencies as well as industry executives aviation, security and defense of Brazil and Sweden.
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I will now get back to bottling my Malbec
