Brazil’s Embraer Only Bidder For $234.5M Colombian Air Force Contract
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer has presented the only bid for a $234.5 million contract to sell 22 light combat aircraft to Colombia, the Colombian government said on June 15. The government will now study the bid for Tucano T-27 propeller-driven aircraft, the defense ministry said.
Interestingly, in November 2002 the Colombian Defense Ministry bowed out of a deal to buy 24 Tucano aircraft after word from the US Southern Command that the proposed $234 million purchase could jeopardize aid to Colombia.
The Tucano, known in Brazil as the T-27, is used in basic training, counterinsurgency/ low-level warfare tactical support and counter-narcotics missions. This basic trainer is a aircraft with tandem seats. The Tucano was sold to Brasilia, Egypt, Honduras, Iraq, Venezuala, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay and Iran. A modified version, developed together with Shorts, was sold to the British RAF. There is also a production line in Egypt.
Other interested companies, including U.S. Raytheon Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp., earlier decided not to present bids and complained the tender conditions were biased toward Embraer.
Reuters (June 16/05) – Brazil’s Embraer Only Bidder For Colombia Contract
