Brazil Forms Committee To Monitor FX-2 Project

Brazil has formed an interministerial committee to monitor the FX-2 Project to acquire 36 Gripen fighters for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). 

This is the objective of the FX-2 Project Monitoring Committee (CAF-X2), which held its first meeting on Friday (May 9) in the Ministry of Defence (MD). The committee will be responsible for monitoring the development and production of the fighter aircraft. 

Established by Ordinance No. 768/MD of March 28, 2014, the committee, in addition to the MD, will consist of representatives of the Ministries of Finance; Development, Industry and Foreign Trade; Science, Technology and Innovation; Planning, Budget and Management; and Foreign Affairs. The Chair of CAF-X2 is provided by the General Secretariat of Defence. 

Friday’s meeting served to present to members the schedule of FX2 activities, and the current status of the Coordinating Committee of the Programme of Combat Aircraft (Copac) of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). In addition, relevant topics such as technology transfer and capacity building of national industry were also discussed. 

According to the secretary general of the MD and president of CAF-X2, Ari Matos Cardoso, the event served to define initial questions regarding the project, which involves public agents of the Federal Administration. 

The executive secretary of the CAF-X2, Brigadier Jose Euclides da Silva Gonçalves, explained that the committee will meet every 60 days. 

The representatives were also informed about the interim solution called Gripen C / D Project and the loan of 12 combat aircraft (10 Gripen C and two Gripen D), available in 2016 and 2017, to compensate for the retirement of the old Mirage. 

Starting next year, two pilots will be trained to operate the future fighters. The project includes training of over 10 pilots, 30 technicians and 20 mechanics. The expectation is that the contract of the project FX-2 will be signed in December 2014.