(S/NF) KUDOS FOR BRAZIL FIGHTER COMPETITION

S E C R E T STATE 047314 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2034 TAGS: PINR MARR MASS BR SUBJECT: (S/NF) KUDOS FOR BRAZIL FIGHTER COMPETITION REPORTING (C-AL9-01070) REF: A. BRASILIA 000041 ¶B. BRASILIA 001590 ¶C. BRASILIA 001589 ¶D. BRASILIA 000216 ¶E. BRASILIA 000069 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE POST'S CABLES THAT DETAIL THE COMPLEXITIES AND PROGRESS OF THE BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE'S (FAB) F-X2 FIGHTER COMPETITION INVOLVING US, FRENCH, AND SWEDISH AIRCRAFT. ANALYSTS HAVE USED THIS REPORTING IN BRIEFINGS AND OTHER PRODUCTS, TO INCLUDE A GRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTING A TIMELINE THAT CHARTED THE FAB'S QUEST FOR A NEW FIGHTER OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. ANALYSTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE TIMELINESS OF POST'S REPORTING AND ITS ABILITY TO KEEP ABREAST OF DEVELOPMENTS BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, AIR FORCE, AND F-X2 PROGRAM OFFICIALS. POST'S INSIGHTS INTO THE RECENT BRAZILIAN-FRENCH DEFENSE AGREEMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE COMPETITION, PARTICULARLY THE ROLE AND INTERACTION OF FRANCE'S DASSAULT AEROSPACE COMPANY WITH BRAZILIAN OFFICIALS AND BUSINESSES, WERE ALSO ARE EXTREMELY USEFUL. ¶2. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATE POST'S REPORTING THAT HAS IDENTIFIED CHANGES WITHIN THE COMPETITION AND DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS' POLICIES REGARDING TECHNOLOGY SHARING AGREEMENTS, THE IMPACT OF BRAZIL'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN ON THE F-X2 PROGRAM, ATTITUDES OF FAB OFFICIALS TOWARDS THE PRICE AND AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL THREE CONTENDING AIRCRAFT, AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE US FIGHTER AND ITS MAIN COMPETITOR, THE DASSAULT RAFALE. MANY THANKS AGAIN FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF TRACKING AN OFTEN COMPLEX COMPETITION AND BRAZILIAN DEFENSE ISSUES. KIND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. CLINTON