巴西将从瑞典购买36架战斗机

 　　巴西将从瑞典购买36架战斗机

　　RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian authorities announced Wednesday it has decided¹ to award a Swedish company a contract for the purchase of 36 fighter jets to modernize² its air force fleet.

　　According to a source from Brazil's Air Force, the Brazilian government decided on Swedish company Saab's Gripen jets after inspecting the F/A-18 Super Hornet made by the U.S. aviation giant Boeing company and French Dassault's Rafale. The deal, worth 4.5 billion U.S. dollars, has been struck after negotiations³ of about some 10 years.

　　The negotiations with the U.S. were reportedly tense following revelations of U.S. spying on Brazil, while the Rafale jets were considered too expensive.

　　Defense⁴ Minister Celso Amorim said the Swedish company was given the contract based on a combination of factors concerning Gripen, including the fighter aircraft's performance, assurances of full technology transfer and overall costs.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。