- Acute modernisation needs to drive defence markets in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Brazil continues to lead the way in Latin American defence expenditure. Upcoming and ongoing programmes means that Brazilian budgets over the next decade will be higher than those of the next five biggest Latin American spenders combined. Overall budgets can be deceptive though, as new procurements are limited by high personnel and maintenance requirements.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.aerospace.frost.com), Revenue Opportunities and Stakeholder Mapping in the Latin American Defence Market, estimates that the cumulative defence expenditure on new equipment procurement in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru will amount to $69.1 billion between 2011 and 2020. The majority of these procurements will be in Brazil.

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail to Francesca Valente, Corporate Communications, at francesca.valente@frost.com with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company email address, company Web site, city, state and country.

"While a lack of big-ticket programmes in smaller countries does not necessarily entail a lack of opportunity for defence companies, Western manufacturers willing to export may be disappointed by challenging markets," noted Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Chiara Ball. "However, significant opportunities exist, especially for those willing to help governments' further industrial development by creating domestic or regional bases."

Latin American countries' stocks currently comprise a lot of Cold War and even WWII-era platforms. Long overdue modernisation drives are now being pushed by governments, and the global recession's comparatively light touch on the region is helping them to do so.

"Some countries' defence forces are struggling with internal security problems," added Ball. "The need to modernise is acute, and is the main driver of defence procurement in the region."

In many countries, decades of economic fragility and instability coincided with transitions to democracy following military dictatorships. The economic and cultural result of this was institutionalised neglect of military capabilities, which is now changing.

However, despite the overall economic growth of many of these countries, overall budgets are still too small to match the overwhelming requirements.

"Many Latin American countries are consistently forced to prioritise their most immediate and often very basic requirements," remarked Ball. "Due to the inability of many Ministries of Defence to create comprehensive long-term procurement plans, forces continue to be strained to their operational limits."

End-users in Latin America are extremely price conscious, in many cases even preferring to buy second-hand platforms and domestically refurbish and upgrade them. There is an increase in the popularity of modular platforms, and demand for upgrade components and packages will remain high.

"Governments in these under-developed countries look favourably on defence procurements with clear domestic industrial and technological benefits," concluded Ball. "In order to foment incentive, companies should enter the market via partnership with local companies or by establishing a domestic manufacturing base."

Revenue Opportunities and Stakeholder Mapping in the Latin American Defence Market is part of the Defence Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets:  Brazil Civil Security Market Assessment. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

• The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
• The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Contact Us:     Start the discussion
Join Us:           Join our community
Subscribe:       Newsletter on "the next big thing"
Register:         Gain access to visionary innovation

Revenue Opportunities and Stakeholder Mapping in the Latin American Defence Market
M768-16

Contact:
Francesca Valente
Corporate Communications – Latin America
P: +54-11-4777-5300
F: +54-11-4777-0071
E: francesca.valente@frost.com

http://www.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan