On Friday, December 14, Rostechnologii and Brazil’s major weapons manufacturer Odebrecht Defensa e Technologia signed a memorandum of technology partnership

Moscow, December 17, 2012
Press release

The cooperation envisages joint research, design and development work and creating a joint venture to manufacture helicopters, antiaircraft systems, naval equipment, and other areas.

Delegation of Odebrecht, the Brazilian parent company of Odebrecht Defensa e Technologia, visited Moscow on October 15-18, 2012. The negotiations resulted in “in principle” agreements to establish a joint venture in Brazil to assemble Russian helicopters – initially, the compete Mil Mi-171 lineup, create a service center for Mil Mi-35M helicopters, and develop a comprehensive antiaircraft system for the Brazilian military. Rosobornexport, Russian Helicopters, and Odebrecht Defensa e Technologia completed negotiations in October by signing a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding. Odebrecht announced its readiness to discuss creation of a strategic technology alliance with Rostechnologii.

The cooperation may entail transfer of technologies, organization of joint ventures, signing subcontracting and other agreements. A joint working group is being set up to coordinate the collaborative efforts.

”Brazil has been our business partner for a long time. For example, the Brazilian Air Force has the Russian Mil Mi-35M multi-role attack helicopters in active service, with yet another shipment delivered this August under a Rosoboronexport contract,” Deputy General Director of Rostechnologii Dmitry Shugaev emphasized. “Signing this MoU should take this cooperation to a new level, where we can start joint design, development and production of military and civilian equipment, among other things.”

Russia and Brazil collaborate in the area of defense technology under the intergovernmental agreement between the two nations signed in November 2008. Russia has exported approximately US$ 306.7 million worth of armaments and military equipment to Brazil since then.

Rostechnologii is a Russian government corporation established in 2007 to promote design, manufacture and exports of high-tech manufacturing products for civilian and military use. The corporation comprises 663 companies and organizations, currently grouped under 12 holding companies in the defense industry sector, and five holding companies in civilian manufacturing sectors. Rostechnologii subsidiaries operate in 60 Russian regions, shipping their products to the markets of more than 70 countries around the world. Rostechnologii generated RUB  45.6 billion in net earnings in 2011, paying RUB 100 billion in federal, regional and local taxes.

Odebrecht Defensa e Technologia is a Brazilian company created in April 2011 to implement large-scale high-tech projects in defense and security sectors. It is part of the Odebrecht Group and is led by CEO Roberto Simoens.

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