The South American nation is embarking on a program to re-equip its outdated military to keep pace with defense spending by neighboring countries, notably Venezuela.

Jobim's first stop, a five-day stay in France, will see him meet President Nicolas Sarkozy and Defense Minister Herve Morin, and commanders of the French defense forces, according to an official itinerary.

He will also speak with bosses at corporate military suppliers including the European consortium EADS and the French groups Thales and Dassault.

After France, Jobim will go to Russia to be received by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Anatoly Sedyukov and other high-ranking officials.

The Brazilian defense ministry said the visit's aim was to "discuss cooperation agreements in the area of defense."

But Jobim told reporters before leaving that "it's not a shopping trip," more a chance to get to know French and Russian defense officials.

He added that, in any case, any defense purchases would be predicated on technology transfer and not simply the acquisition of finished systems.

Brazil is interested in renewing its fleet of supersonic warplanes and is looking closely at Dassault's Rafale and the Russian Sukhoi jet.

It is also mulling the purchase of a nuclear-powered submarine, possibly from France's DCNS.

Brazil's defense budget for 2008 has jumped 53 percent over last year's, to 10 billion reais (5.7 billion dollars). More than a quarter of that sum is allocated for investment in equipment, according to the ministry.

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