Embraer Expands Defense Product Choices

By wendell minnick

BANGALORE - India's Air Force signed a deal with Embraer for three EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft in July 2008, and the company is now preparing for the competition for India's multi-mission aircraft bid for nine aircraft, based on the EMB 145. This includes two SIGINT and seven target towing/reconnaissance mission aircraft with communication jammer capabilities.

The EMB 145 AEW&C contract includes a comprehensive logistics package comprised of training, technical support, spare parts, and ground support equipment, said Sergio Bellato Alves, vice president, Marketing and Sales, Asia, Defense and Government Market at an Embraer press conference at Aero India."The proven ERJ 145 platform, currently being used on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Brazil, Mexico and Greece, will join the AEW&C Program under the responsibility of India's Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO)," said Bellato Alves.

The first delivery is scheduled for 2011. The aircraft will be outfitted by India with cabin equipment and mission systems. The aircraft will be outfitted in India with advanced electronic systems currently under development by the DRDO.The three aircraft will join four Embraer Legacy jets in operation by the Indian Air Force used to transport Indian VIPs, as well as foreign dignitaries, said Bellato Alves. A fifth Legacy belongs to the Border Security Force, under India's Home Ministry.The Brazil-based aviation company has had tremendous success venturing out of its commercial platform market of airline and luxury business jets into the rugged world of military aircraft.The company offers four types of aircraft, including Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (IRS) aircraft, training aircraft, combat aircraft (Super Tucano), and transport aircraft. Embraer also offers systems and services that include integration.

The EMB 145, originally a commercial aircraft, comes in three variants: the EMB 145 Airborne Ground Surveillance aircraft, EMB 145 Maritime Patrol aircraft, and the EMB 145 AEW&C."Embraer offers cost effective solutions for the ISR market," he said. "We are now in the design stage with India. We are making modifications for Indian installation of indigenous systems."The aircraft will be modified in Brazil, and then flown to India for final outfitting of electronic systems. Modifications will include air-to-air refueling, but DRDO will be installing the command and control and other systems," Ballato Alves said.

Ten EMB 145 AEW&C aircraft have already been delivered to three air forces, including five for the Brazilian Air Force under the Amazon Surveillance System, one aircraft for Mexico with the National Defense Department, and Greece's Hellenic Air Force has ordered four aircraft to be operated within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization environment.Embraer is also working on a new cargo aircraft, the C-390, with India's military as a potential customer.It is Embraer's first medium-sized transport cargo aircraft. At this time it is in the preliminary design phrase, but the new aircraft will have a transport capability of 19 tons, in-flight refueling, state-of-the art avionics, and will be capable of handling short, semi-prepared runways. It will have the capability of transporting one Patria AMV 8x8 or 1 LAV-25 vehicle, or three HMMWV "Humvee" vehicles. Embraer will also submit the aircraft for U.S. Federal Aviation Agency "Part 25" certification."We are also designing a tanker version for in-flight refueling designated the KC-390," Ballato Alves said. Embraer will begin looking at Indian suppliers for the new aircraft in late 2009 or early 2010.

Posted in: AWACS,India