Brazil secures lower interest terms in Swedish fighter contract
Gripen NG fighter aircraft 
Brazil and Sweden will complete the final details of the contract to purchase of 36 Gripen NG fighter aircraft from Sweden's Saab company in the coming days. The deal was announced Wednesday (July 30), following three days of negotiations in which Brazil's government was trying to negotiate cheaper interest terms.
The interest rate was agreed at 2.19%, a compromise that suits both countries, according to Brazil's Defense Minister Jaques Wagner. He argued that “Brazil couldn't sign a contract in 2015 with rates from 2014,” he said, in a reference to the lower interest rates in Europe this year.
According to Wagner, the contract will be confirmed within 10–12 days, and about 200 technical personnel from Brazil will receive training in Sweden, since the project includes technology transfer to Brazil. According to the Ministry of Defense, upon completion of the negotiations, the contract will be pending the legal proceedings to be approved by the Senate.
The Brazilian government chose to buy the 36 Gripen NG fighters from Saab in late 2013. With the contract completion, Saab is expected to deliver the first aircraft in 2019, and the last one in 2024.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Brazil secures lower interest terms in Swedish fighter contract
