So far there are two ways this is going brand new out of the box types such as Gripen – JF-17 – SH – Rafale and SU-30. And there is second hand types such as F-16- Mirage 2000 there has been some good points made as to the way South American counties see them self what they can afford the high cost of western types and the problem with spears on Russian types.

So this how I see it so far

Argentina – should at this time try for second hand Mirage 2000 from Qatar or France due to already operating Mirage 3 and the possibility of shearing training with Brazil and Peru. But if unable to do this they really need to look at JF-17 properly

Brazil – Given how stable the region is at this time should try and pick up the 62 Mirage 2000’s from the UAE and upgrade the 40 best jets to AESA standard as they already operate the type and this would allow them time to look at 5th gen types in 2025 or if they started building an 4.5 gen type in house the time to get it right

Chile – Has just put its F-16’s through a big upgrade but will need to start looking around in 2025 for a replacement or newer F-16’s

Colombia – I feel would like to get is hands on F-16 but if not may also think about Mirage 2000 from France or second hand early Gripens A/C or JF-17if going new

Ecuador – I feel is in the same boat as Colombia with the same options

Peru – Have just upgraded both it main fighter types Mig-29 and Mirage 2000 but will need to start looking in 2025-30 and may look at Mig-35 – J-10 -SU-30/35 or Gripen

Venezuela – Have SU-30 and may look for of them or SU-35

So that’s how I see it and I feel that F-35 – T-50 and J-20/31 are off the table until 2040 in this region

I would like to hear a better argument for Russian and Chinese types put forward based around SU-30/35 Mig-29/35 – JF-17 and J-10A/B.

Like if China fitted a Chinese engine into J-10A and sold them on could this be a way into the South American market ?

china also have long history of aesa, it is used in the ships awacs and other stuff. also at least three fighters will ahve aesa like j10b, j20 and j31. uk only has one.

anyway point is not uk becuase none of south american will buy typhoon.

And if they concentrated on one of them it might be as good as Typhoon

And as for South American not buying typhoon that is to be seen as it will be for Chinese types

As said if some one was to buy the 62 Mirage 2000’s from the UAE and put the oldest 2 jets through spears recovery the next oldest 20 jets into service with out much more than paint job and the rest could go through an AESA radar upgrade with the first 20 to enter service around 2022 at which time the first 20 jets start to go through spears recovery the last 20 jets would enter service around 2027 with an the out of services date of 2040 and after 2022 you would look to operate 30 to 35 jets up to the out of service date. This could keep you out of the US will we won’t we problem as you could also look to pick up air frames and spears as they come along

At this time the only new type Argentina can afford is JF-17 and only 12 at most

Ok if Brazil was to buy all 62 of the UAE’s mirage 2000’s push the 25 oldest air frames in into service with little work to them do the same with the 8 recognisance ones and then put the rest through an AESA upgrade in say 2020 this may allow the 2000 fleet to make it to 2040 with the first 25 retiring in say 2030. The first 25 could replace the first F-5’s to be retired and the second lot could replace the last of the F-5s early. 12 of the better F-5’s could be gifted to Argentina as good will I know they are old but it would give Argentina BVR for the first time all this would allow Brazil to push back FX2 until 2025 and stay ahead of those around them

As for the carrier you are right about how old she is and the fact that the A-4s may see it out but it is down to how the Brazilians want to go about business and how they want to be seen that may push logic out the window

It would certainly be very useful to Brazil to acquire a few since the country could maintain capability without the expense of introducing a new 4.5G type. UAE might also be prepared to part with some of its M2K’s before receiving its own new 4.5G/5G aircraft.

If Brazil was to buy the UAE Mirage 2000’s and feed them through Embraer for upgrade with AESA radar and also any air frame mod’s as idented by Dassault it could give them a aircraft that will see them through to 2040 and for me an AESA equipped Mirage 2000 would be a good place to start for the air force and would free up more money for 12-16 4.5 gen type aircraft for the Navy. they could also save money by not upgrading AMX and A-4 skyhawks