Rio, April 23, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The bidding process to purchase FX fighters for the Air Force was postponed until next year, but, according to what the Minister of Defense, José Viegas, said yesterday (22), the ground rules remain the same, and the five final-round proposals continue in force. He informed that the competitors will have the opportunity, if they so desire, to up-date their proposals, in case there are technological innovations that can be incorporated in the aircraft.

The Minister's intention is to submit a new schedule in the second half of the year, to be followed in 2004 for the final definition of the competition. "The Brazilian Air Force will make a technical assessment of the qualities of the airplanes."

Viegas said that the postponement does not mean that the Administration is not committed to re-equipping the Air Force. "We need to defend our air space, especially in the Amazon region, and the plans to re-equip the Air Force can be reorganized, but they will not be interrupted," the Minister guaranteed. (DAS)