Russia exported US$3.68 Billion of military hardware in 2000, receiving in return US$2.84 Billion in hard currency. According to Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, within the next 2 to 4 years, Russia will be able to overtake the United Kingdom as the world's second largest arms exporter, despite the increasingly tight arms market brought about by shrinking defense budgets.

For Russia, Latin America is a key market with current customers in Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

The Argentine Air Force's fleet of 12 FMA IA63 "Pampa" trainers are to receive improved avionics under a US$15 million contract agreed with Israel's Elbit systems.

To be conducted over a 3 year program, the improvements are part of an Air Force modernization package, worth $230 million awarded to Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina S.A

The Chilean Army has adopted the South African "Vulture" UAV to be used as an eye in the sky for rocket artillery spotting of its 160mm self propelled multi-launcher rocket system.

FAMAE-Royal Ordnance, the company building the 160mm "RAYO" Rocket project is a 50/50 joint venture between BAE Systems and the Chilean Military Industry.

The aspirations of Brazilian growing defense business are taking front row in Latin America with very promising export prospects with 3 different aircrafts, all developed for Brazil's system for vigilance of the Amazon (SIVAM) Environmental Protection Program.

The new aircrafts are:

The EMB-145 SA Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, the EMB-145 RS Remote Sensing, electronic and signal intelligence aircraft and the new ALX Super Tucano. All of these aircrafts are now for sale.

With over 30% of the commercial air traffic control market in Latin America, Alenia Marconi- a joint venture between Finmeccanica of Italy and BAE systems it boast more than $1 billion worth of equipment in the continent, including Naval electronics, missiles and air defense radars and systems.

Missile customers already include: Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela and Ecuador.

New life has been breathed into the joint EMBRAER-Alenio Aerospazio AMX Light Fighter Program by the recent $150 million order by Venezuela for 8 advanced AMX-T two seat advanced tactical training aircraft.

The two companies have completed their commitment to deliver 136 AMX aircraft to the Italian Air Force and 56 to Brazil

Perhaps never before in the history of commerce and industry this quest for customer information and business intelligence have been more important than it is today.

Companies are facing unprecedented competition for goods and services worldwide, and the most important ones recognize that they must differentiate themselves from their competitors within the global economy.

Companies in the defense industry no longer can rely on what were once the attributes of competitive standing: price, quality and choice, because new information technology has enabled even the smallest companies in the most remote geographic locations to compete in your own backyard.

The one area were companies can still differentiate themselves is in the management of Business Intelligence Information (BII):

How well and how quickly they respond to their customers demands.

How well they really know their Latin American customer, is measured by just one issue...contact.

By that time the tender will be over, and a small company in Europe will be awarded the contract.

With CHILE COMPANY, you get the country report tonight, the analysis and the status report on your tender in a week, and the strategy to win (if the opportunity is real) in just two.

If your business range from state-of-the art weapon systems design, to building high-added-value ships, for both merchant and military customers, or if your products are oriented to military transport, commercial aircraft aerostructures, advanced mission system, maintenance and modification of existing Latin American platforms.

This is your page for market information.

Here, you will find instant electronic information, country by country, branch by branch of the Latin American Armed Forces, regarding contracts, current and future projects, modernization programs, tenders, system upgrade needs, and budget availability.

In short, a very detailed country overview that you should be comparing with your "in country" representative monthly reports, if any.

At CHILE COMPANY we focus on customer project priorities, from defense modernization to building and launching ships, assembling aircraft or manufacturing combat vehicles.

We believe that the Latin American Armed Forces are looking for global partnerships to fulfill some of its more immediate defense requirements.

For that reason, we are already there talking to them.

Don't you wish you had a simple and direct source for Business Intelligence right out from your computer screen?

The world is changing and the traditional way of doing business is changing with it. At CHILE COMPANY, we know that...

What about your Busines Development Department ?