São Paulo – Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) last Thursday (19) to study the potential development of a new light military transport aircraft.
The study looks to to identify solutions and alternatives to meet the FAB’s operational needs, particularly in the Amazon region, such as unpaved, extremely short, damaged runways, with no infrastructure, located in remote areas.
It will also try to explore the potential application of new technologies that will bring about more efficient responses to FAB’s extreme demands, such as different system architectures, innovative solutions for platforms, hybrid-electric propulsion, and others.
Earlier this year, FAB received its first units of the modern KC-390 Milennium, a multi-mission tactical military airlifter. With this study, it seeks to complement and modernize its transport capabilities in the smaller segments, in order to better fulfill Brazil’s needs.
Based on the history of this cooperation that brings together Embraer’s execution capability and FAB’s innovative, high-performing demands, the study will seek to also cover how to better serve the global market current demands.
Under the agreement, Embraer will carry out market studies for the development of the new aircraft, while FAB will provide its expertise in operating aircraft in this segment
The joint study will look at FAB’s needs in difficult environments, such as unpaved, short and damaged runways located in remote areas, Embraer added.
“We’re certain that the FAB’s experience will help us define the most appropriate requirements for this study, resulting in an extremely capable craft,” Embraer Defesa & Segurança president and CEO Jackson Schneider (pictured on the right) was quoted as saying in a press release.
“This new project will be extremely important to maintain and improve Embraer’s engineering and technology capabilities to serve the challenging demands of the FAB and our other clients around the world,” he finished.
According to FAB lieutenant-brigadier Antonio Carlos Bermudez, “this memorandum’s goal was to make it formal Embraer’s plan to develop a light cargo and personnel aircraft. This project features FAB’s participation, particularly with respect to sharing expertise, what we’ve already developed jointly, to serve FAB’s operational needs,” Bermudez, who’s also the commander of the FAB, was quoted as saying in the release (pictured on the left).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
