Gripen and Varig's foster their strategic partnership
GRIPEN AND VARIG'S FOSTER THEIR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Gripen International and VEM-VARIG Engineering and Maintenance recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate potential projects in the areas of logistics support and transfer of technology. As part of the program of industrial cooperation, required under the government plan to acquire new jet fighter aircraft, the partners have announced they are incorporating new features in the agreement signed last February. The cooperation now envisaged, also covering the aircraft systems area, including support and development of the tactical functionality and weapons integration. Based on this, VEM will be the Strategic Partner to Gripen International and, therefore, be the center for Gripen technologies in Brazil. As a result of this new development, and in the event that Gripen International is awarded the contract to supply Gripen fighter aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force, the level of industrial cooperation proposed as part of the Gripen program will lead to the creation of a Gripen Systems Development Center - GSDC in Brazil. According to Managing Director of Gripen International, Ian McNamee, "Gripen Systems Development Center - GSDC, will be the base for a complete Gripen systems development environment, which could be expanded to include training simulators for both pilots and ground crew". Ian added that "the Gripen Systems Development Center can also support FAB in their development of tactical scenarios to support the continuous development of the software functions of the Gripen and other programmes utilizing the latest design engineering and software development tools". President of VEM-VARIG Engineering and Maintenance, Evandro Oliveira, says that "this strategic partnership with Gripen International aims at securing Brazil's autonomy as it is a Brazilian company". Evandro emphasized, "VEM is taking steps to be ready to absorb such technology". The Gripen Systems Development Center will include a Gripen Systems engineering environment with associated simulation capabilities and take on the following general functions: Operation of the Gripen Systems engineering environment and associated simulation capabilities Be the center of the Gripen software development in Brazil Be the base for introduction of Gripen design techniques Maintain configuration control and a local database for Gripen Once established, the Gripen Systems Development Center will serve as a hub for all Gripen activities in Brasil and also be developed to support other military and civil programs. As part of the process, a group of representatives from VEM visited SAAB in Sweden last week. The purpose of this visit is to learn more on how to secure Brazilian autonomy, should Gripen International be chosen in the bidding process. "The Strategic Partnership between VEM and Gripen International has been established as part of VEM's policy to position itself as a Brazilian source for the Brazilian Air Force for support, maintenance and further development of Military aircraft in Brasil and to possibly contribute to the success of current FAB's programs to renew its fleet", says President of VEM-VARIG Engineering and Maintenance, Evandro Oliveira. Notes do Editors: Gripen International is a company owned jointly by Saab AB of Sweden and BAE SYSTEMS of Great Britain. www.gripen.com VEM - VARIG Engineering and Maintenance is a Brazilian company that provides engineering and heavy maintenance (repair and overhaul) for aircraft and its components. www.varigvem.com.br For further information, please contact: Owe Wagermark, Communications Director Gripen International Phone +46 708 896000 Evandro Braga de Olivera, President Varig Engineering & Maintenance Phone +55 21 2468 2126 Celia Santos, Gripen Brazil PR Phone +55 11 30373225 www.gripen.com www.gripen.com.br ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/06/06/20020606BIT00430/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/06/06/20020606BIT00430/wkr0002.pdf