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 
TAGS: 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, &and 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