The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Embraer signed a contract for the upgrading of 11 more F-5 fighters. The announcement was made on Thursday April 14 in Rio de Janeiro, during the LAAD 2011 defense and aerospace exhibition. The package also includes the provision of an additional flight simulator.
The agreement is an extension of the contract signed in 2000 for the modernization of a first batch of 46 F-5E. Of this total, 39 aircraft have been delivered and two are in process of collection. The rest will be delivered this year.
The modernization program is focused on providing the aircraft with an electronic warfare system of the latest generation, new avionics, in-flight refueling capability and increased operational capacity, as well as extending the useful life of the aircraft by at least another 15 years. The investment is of 276 million reals.
The FAB will refurbish the 11 airframes. Next year, they fighters will be delivered to Embraer for the beginning of the modernization process. The upgraded aircraft will return to service gradually beginning in 2013.
The Air Force Commander, Lieutenant Brigadier General Juniti Saito, and Orlando Jose Ferreira Neto, Vice President for Sales of Embraer Defense and Security, attended the news conference to announce the contract.
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