SANTIAGO. March 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The results of the ongoing Brazilian tender on procuring a batch of multi-role fighters may be announced in early April, Sergei Korotkov, deputy director general of Russia's Sukhoi Aircraft Holding Company, told Interfax-Military News Agency at the FIDAE 2004 air show on Tuesday.
"We expected the results of the Brazilian tender, involving the SU-35 multi-role fighter, to have been announced in the course of the ongoing air show. But this is likely to happen in early April," Korotkov said.
As far as its flight characteristics are concerned, the SU- 35 features unrivalled capabilities, he said.
"The Russian side is undoubtedly superior with regards to the performances, but Brazil is not interested in procuring fighters only," he said.
"Brazil says that if it buys expensive materiel from Russia, Russia should also purchase various products from Brazil, i.e. it should be an equal trading partner. Brazilian authorities have in mind deliveries of meat, wine, coffee, etc," Korotkov said.
He noted that throughout the tender the Sukhoi Company and Rosoboronexport had enjoyed considerably support on the Russian authorities. Brazil has recently been visited by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, Deputy Prime Minister Boris Alyoshin, and a number of other officials.
According to independent experts and western mass media, the Russian SU-35 is likely to make a winner at the tender. On Monday the flagship Brazilian paper Folha de San Paolo quoted a source in the Brazilian Air Force as saying that the Russian SU-35 would win the Brazilian tender.
Russia offered Brazil both deliveries of multi-role fighters, and a worthy offset program, pertaining to space program cooperation, and designing military and civil aircraft. The Russian side also considered providing Brazil with the SU-35 production license.
"If we win the tender, Brazil may become a foothold for promoting aircraft in the rest of Latin America," Korotkov said.
The SU-35 is competing with the French Mirage 2000, the U.S. F-16, and the Swedish Grippen. Brazil intends to procure 12 fighters. Later on this number may be increased to 24 aircraft. The long-term program envisions purchasing a total of up to 60 combat aircraft, Korotkov said.
The SU-35 is mass produced by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO).
"The aircraft offered meets all requirements of the Brazilian Air Force. The design of the fighter has been coordinated with the customer and endorsed by the parties concerned," Korotkov said.