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The company has confirmed that the number of KC-390s ordered by the Brazilian Air Force will be reduced over the coming years.
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Embraer has confirmed that the number of KC-390s contracted by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) will decrease from 28 to 22 units, with production and supply of the systems lasting until 2034.
The pair reached the agreement in line with the new budgetary situation for the FAB as well as Embraer’s suppliers.
Embraer announced that the KC-390 program will lead not only to operational improvements for the FAB, but also produce broad economic benefits for the country – with Portugal and Hungary having already ordered KC-390 systems.
The KC-390 has been designed to undertake an array of missions from humanitarian taskings, aerial refuelling, medical operations, search and rescue as well as troop transport. Already, the capability has successfully undertaken taskings in Lebanon and Haiti, and has been used throughout Brazil’s COVID-19 support operation.
Late last year, Embraer confirmed that the company entered into a technical co-operation agreement to study the system with the Brazilian Army’s Department of Science and Technology.
As part of the contract, the pair would undertake joint studies and analysis of technical and operational concepts for artillery counter-battery radar systems and evaluate additional requirements for the design and development of the system.
“We are very pleased to sign this Technical Cooperation Agreement with Embraer. In recent decades, the fruitful partnership between the company and the Brazilian Army has consolidated strategic knowledge in radar and border surveillance systems for Brazil, with the implementation and supply of defense systems and military material for benefit Strategic Programs, such as the SISFRON and the Anti-Aircraft Defense,” Army science and technology department chief, General Guido Amin Naves said.
“As a result of this joint effort, Brazil now belongs to a group of countries that master radar technology and manufacturing. We are sure that this cooperation will allow us further existing initiatives, perpetuating knowledge, retaining technologies and expanding strategic capabilities for the ground force.”
Throughout the agreement, Embraer and the Brazilian Army hope to undertake preliminary research into technical and operational requirements for the artillery counter-battery radar system, as well as finding technological uses for radars already in use by the Brazilian Army that could bolster the new system.
“With this agreement, we will expand Embraer's expertise in research and development of the radar and ground systems field, including sensors and their civilian and military applications,” Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security, said.
Embraer has a long pedigree in the radar field, working with the Brazilian Army’s Integrated Border Monitoring System. According to the company, the system is one of the world’s largest surveillance projects.
[Related: Embraer and BAE Systems announce collaboration, Eve to expand UAM networks]
