Viewing cable 09BRASILIA952, BRAZIL,S AIR FORCE COMMANDER ASKS FOR STATE ASSURANCES ON TECH TRANSFER BY AUGUST 6

Viewing cable 09BRASILIA952, BRAZIL,S AIR FORCE COMMANDER ASKS FOR STATE ASSURANCES ON TECH TRANSFER BY AUGUST 6

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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
09BRASILIA952	2009-07-31 20:08	2010-12-05 05:05	SECRET//NOFORN	Embassy Brasilia

VZCZCXRO1680
OO RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0952 2122042
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 312042Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4792
INFO RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 9789
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 8046
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 4373
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

S E C R E T BRASILIA 000952 

NOFORN 
SIPDIS 

STATE FOR D, P, T, AND WHA 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2019 

TAG MASS, PREL, BR 
SUBJECT: BRAZIL,S AIR FORCE COMMANDER ASKS FOR STATE ASSURANCES ON TECH 

TRANSFER BY AUGUST 6 

REF: BRASILIA 888 

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION LISA KUBISKE, REASON 1.4 

(b) and (d) 

¶1. (S/NF) At a July 30 dinner for visiting SouthCom Commander

General Doug Fraser, Brazil,s Air Force (BRAF) commander, Brigadier

Juniti Saito (protect), pulled Ambassador Sobel and Political 

Counselor aside to discuss the FX-2 Fighter purchase. He said that

there was no question from a technical point of view that the F18 

was the superior aircraft. &We have been flying U.S. equipment

for decades,8 he said, ∧ we know that it is dependable and that

maintenance is simple and cost-effective through FMS.8 That has to

be factored into the cost of the new fighter, he said, as the

BRAF will likely be using the plane for thirty or forty years.

It is the best decision, he said, and the French can,t 

complain as they just signed a USD 14 billion deal with Brazil 

(for submarines and helicopters). 

¶2. (S/NF) Saito stressed, however, that the question regarding

USG commitment to technology transfer remains &a significant

political barrier8 that is extremely important to overcome.

Saito asked whether the letter he had requested that assured

technology transfer (reftel) would be forthcoming. The Ambassador 

assured him that we understood how important it was to overcome 

this issue, and said he believed it was in the final stage of

approval. Relieved, Saito said he needed the letter in hand by

August 6. He said, however, that the decision would not be

announced until &after September 7.8 (Note: French President 

Sarkozy will visit Brazil next month and attend national day

festivities on September 7 as part of the &Year of France in

Brazil8 activities. End note.) 

¶3. (S/NF) Saito reiterated how important President Obama,s

discussion on the FX-2 sale with President Lula at Aquila had

been, saying, &It opened the door for me to approach the

Ambassador as I have.8 He said that President Lula had

instructed Defense Minister Jobim and Brigadeiro Saito to

meet with General Jones during his upcoming visit and requested

an office call by General Jones. 

¶4. (S/NF) Comment: This was Saito,s clearest expression that

he plans to recommend the F18. Post is working to set up a meeting

between General Jones and Brigadier Saito on August 4. Post

further understands that Under Secretary Tauscher is prepared to

deliver the letter Saito requested to Defense Minister Jobim

and Foreign Minister Amorim during the visit, and believes this

will be seen as a significant sign of USG support for Boeing,s

offer.

SOBEL