Deal on Pantsir-S1 missile systems sale to Brazil to be signed by June end - Rosoboronexport
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil. April 12 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport hopes to start negotiations with Brazil on exports of Pantsir-S1 air defense missile and gun systems in the near future, Sergei Ladygin, head of Rosoboronexport's delegation to the LAAD 2013 Defense and Security International Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, told journalists.
"Hopefully, we will be able to tell the press together with the Brazilian side in the first half of the year that a contract has been concluded," Ladygin said.
Several presentations of the Pantsir-S1 system have been conducted during the exhibition for potential customers, including representatives of the Brazilian interdepartmental commission, which is laying the ground for these talks, he said.
"They assured us that all preparations can be completed within a month. I do not think that the talks will see any delays," he said.
By offering Pantsir-S1 systems to Brazil, Russia reaffirms its readiness for broad cooperation in technologies and production, including transfers of technologies and the possibility of manufacturing components for these systems in Brazil under a license, he said.
Unofficial reports say that Russia could deliver up to four Pantsir-S1 squadrons to Brazil. One squadron includes from three to six Pantsir-S1 systems. The price of the deal could stand at several hundred million U.S. dollars.
