Aircraft
Brazilian Air Force Pushes For Deferred New Fighter
Aging Northrop F-5s will be the frontline fighter in the Brazilian Air Force after it grounds its Mirage 2000s at the end of the year. (Photo: Embraer)
Aging Northrop F-5s will be the frontline fighter in the Brazilian Air Force after it grounds its Mirage 2000s at the end of the year. (Photo: Embraer)

Brazil’s Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) plans to retire its fleet of Mirage 2000 fighters at the end of this year. The announcement has brought new focus on Brazil’s longstanding but deferred FX-2 new fighter requirement. In testimony to the Brazilian Senate on August 13, FAB Commander Lt. Gen. Juniti Saito defended the need for new fighters to maintain an adequate air defense, as well as for the benefits any purchase would bring to Brazil’s own aerospace sector.