WILL BRAZIL BUY THE RAFALE F3?

In 2006 the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) began the FX-2 project with the objective of upgrading its fleet of combat airplanes. This plan includes the acquisition of 36 fighters at a total cost of US$3 Billion.

Until now three companies have a chance to win the contract: the Dassault Rafale F3 (France), the Boeing F/A-18 E/F (USA) and the SAAB Gripen NG (Sweden). The big question is: "When will the Brazil announce the name of the winner ?" According to Gerard Sellier, Dassault´s Offset and Industrial Co-operation Manager, the answer will be given in 2012.

Rafale International is the only company that has accepted the Brazilian government´s requirement to manufacture the fighters in Brazilian territory and set up a factory in the country so that in the future the Rafale F3 can be exported to other South American countries.When comparing the technical aspects of each fighter, the Rafale appears superior in several categories:

1) The F3 can carry more weapons (9000 kgs), while the F18 can carry 8000 kgs and the Gripen NG carries 6300 Kgs.

2) The F3´s estimated combat range is 1850 kms, against 1231 kms of the F18 and 900 kms of the Gripen. This is very important due to Brazil´s huge territory of 8 million square kilometers.

3) The Rafale is the only fighter that can fully operate on the Sao Paulo, the Brazilian navy´s new aircraft carrier.

4) The Rafale can shoot at six targets simultaneously with its MICA missiles .

5) The F3 has been proven in real combat situations in Afghanistan and Lybia.

6) 180 RAFALE F3 are in use by the French Air Force.

ALL RIO TEAMS WITH CHANCE TO BE BRAZIL CHAMPIONS!

All the teams from Rio won their matches the past weekend: Flamengo beat Ceará 1-0 (but Ronaldinho was sent off and will not play the next match). Vasco da Gama also won and is now in first place together with Corinthians, both have 54 points. Fluminense beat Palmeiras by 2-1. Botafogo has a very good chance of going to first place if it gets a victory against Santos on Wednesday night. The first places in the points table are as follows:

1) Corinthians 54 pts

1) Vasco da Gama 54 pts

2) Botafogo 52 pts

3) Flamengo 51 pts

4) Fluminense 50 pts.

FLUMINENSE BEATS CORITIBA : 3-1

FLUMINENSE GETS INTO THE RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.....VASCO DA GAMA STILL AT JOINT FIRST PLACE WITH CORINTHIANS : 51 POINTS....BOTAFOGO BEAT CORINTHIANS 2-0 AND ALSO GOES UP IN THE TABLE...ALSO HAS A CHANCE TO BE CHAMPIONS....................SO TO HAS FLAMENGO...4TH PLACE !

FLAMENGO WINS FLA-FLU: 3-2

Yesterday at the Engenhão Stadium, Flamengo beat its main rivals, Fluminense by 3-2. Now Flamengo has a good chance of becoming champions, at present it is in 4th place of the points table. Its next match is on Wednesday night against Palmeiras. Vasco da Gama lost 3-0 to Internacional in Porto Alegre. Botafogo drew 2-2 with Bahia.

APART ROCK IN RIO APARTMENT: 75896004 (COPA)

FLU BEATS CORINTHIANS ! UP TO 5TH PLACE

FLUMINENSE IS IMPROVING ....BEAT THE LEADER CORINTHIANS BY 1-0 AT ENGENHAO STADIUM;......FRED SCORED WITH A LUCKY FREE KICK (SEE HERE).

VASCO DA GAMA DREW 1-1 WITH FIGUEIRENSE,,,,,,,BOTAFOGO WENT DOWN 5-0 TO CORITIBA AND FLAMENGO ALSO LOST 1-2 (AGAINST AT.PARANA) ..FLA IS IN A CRISIS...LUXEMBURGO MAY GO !

Vasco da Gama wins! Great goal by Juninho Pernambucano!

VASCO DA GAMA WINS...SEE JUNINHO´S GREAT FREE KICK GOAL...NOW VASCO IS IN THIRD PLACE OF THE BRASILERAO...FLAMENGO LOST 2-1 TO CORINTHIANS....GOES DOWN TO 5TH PLACE ......BOTAFOGO IS IN 4TH PLACE...FLUMINENSE IN 6TH PLACE......TEAMS FROM RIO ARE DOING WELL................