March 14,2008: Brazil and France have entered into a strategic defense alliance, which involves France helping Brazil develop its own nuclear submarines, and a demand for French weapons. Brazil is developing a nuclear power plant small enough to fit into something like the new, 4,100 ton French Barracuda nuclear attack subs. France will first sell at least one Scropene conventionally powered sub to Brazil, to be built in Brazil. France will also help Brazil install the Brazilian designed nuclear power plant in a new sub design. It's possible that France will also help Brazil with the design of that nuclear power plant. France also hopes to sell Brazil Rafael jet fighters, and has agreed to buy fifty helicopters from Brazil. The 1,400 ton Scorpene subs cost $600 million each, while the new French Barracuda nuclear powered subs cost $1.6 billion each. Brazil wants to improve its fleet, in part because oil has been discovered off the coast of Brazil. France also wants to develop another major export customer for its weapons, and is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to accomplish this.