France, Brazil Forge Military Pact [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Published Tuesday, February 12, 2008
France, Brazil Forge Military Pact

By NATHALIE SCHUCK
Associated Press Writer

SAINT-GEORGES DE L'OYAPOCK, French Guiana - France is ready to transfer technology to Brazil so that an attack submarine, helicopters and the Rafale fighter plane can be built there, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday.

Sarkozy met with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Saint-Georges de Oyapock, on the border with Brazil on the second and last day of his trip to France's largest overseas territory.

Sarkozy also said France was willing to transfer technology to allow a French attack submarine and fighter planes to be built in Brazil, but he stopped short of any nuclear technology transfer.
(snip)

The Scorpene class submarine is a conventional attack submarine, but Brazilian officials have said they want the diesel-powered sub to serve as a model for the development of a Brazilian nuclear submarine that would be the first in Latin America.


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