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12 novembre 2015 4 12 /11 /novembre /2015 08:30
Lebanese AF Selects A-29 Super Tucano for Close Air Support Role

 

Nov 9, 2015 ASDNews  Source : Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A

 

The Republic of Lebanon today confirmed the acquisition of six A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft from Embraer Defense & Security and Sierra Nevada Corporation. The contract includes logistics support for aircraft operation as well as a complete training system for Lebanese Air Force pilots and mechanics. The sale was approved in June by the U.S. State Department. The aircraft sale is part of a larger, more comprehensive package, including infrastructure improvements, that will be fulfilled by other parties not involved in the Embraer/SNC partnership. The planes, which are currently in operation with 10 Air Forces around the world, will be built in the Jacksonville, Florida.

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19 juin 2015 5 19 /06 /juin /2015 09:45
photo Embraer

photo Embraer

 

18 juin 2015 source Aerobuzz.fr

 

Le constructeur brésilien Embraer a officialisé au salon du Bourget une commande de 6 A-29 Super Tucano émanant de la République du Mali. Le contrat inclut le support logistique pour les opérations ainsi que la formation des pilotes et des mécaniciens. Les Super Tucano seront déployés pour la formation avancée des pilotes des forces aériennes maliennes, la surveillance des frontières et des missions de sureté intérieure.

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18 mars 2015 3 18 /03 /mars /2015 17:35
Vol d'entraînement au profit d'un pilote afghan aux Etats-Unis. Photo USAF

Vol d'entraînement au profit d'un pilote afghan aux Etats-Unis. Photo USAF

 

18 Mars 2015 par Defens’Aero

 

Au mois de Février 2013, le Pentagone a confirmé son intention de se procurer vingt A-29 Super Tucano afin de former et de constituer une véritable force aérienne pour l'Afghanistan, qui voit le départ de plusieurs milliers de militaires de l'ISAF, mois après mois, et qui va devoir assumer, tant bien que mal, la sécurité de son pays.

 

Le contrat, remporté face à l'AT-6 Texan de l'avionneur Beechcraft, prévoit, en plus de la livraison des appareils légers d'attaque au sol, la vente d'un simulateur, un système informatique permettant le débriefing des missions, ainsi qu'un support logistique et un certain nombre de pièces qui seront utilisées pour les réparations et la maintenance, une fois que l'Afghanistan réceptionnera officiellement les Super Tucano sur son territoire.

 

Et cette réception devrait se faire vers la fin de l'année 2015, plus précisément au mois de Décembre, si tout se déroule comme prévu. En effet, selon John Campbell, Général au sein de l'US Army et commandant de la Force Internationale d'Assistance et de Sécurité, le premier A-29 Super Tucano devrait se poser sur le sol afghan à la fin de l'année.

 

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30 septembre 2014 2 30 /09 /septembre /2014 11:20
First A-29 Super Tucano delivered at Roll-Out Ceremony

First A-29 Super Tucano delivered at Roll-Out Ceremony

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2014) sncorp.com

 

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Embraer Defense & Security today presented the first United States-built A-29 Super Tucano light air support aircraft in a roll-out ceremony with the U.S. Air Force and government officials, industry and community representatives, and news media. The aircraft, which also performs as an outstanding advanced trainer, is the first of 20 that are being delivered to the U.S. Air Force for its Light Air Support (LAS) program to support the stability of Afghanistan as it assumes increased responsibility for security with the redeployment of NATO forces.

 

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26 juin 2014 4 26 /06 /juin /2014 11:25
Honduras, Embraer Discuss Aircraft Upgrades

 

June 23, 2014 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Forecast International; issued June 23, 2014)

 

Honduras Seeks Technical Agreement with Embraer for Fleet Modernization

 

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador --- Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández is hoping to sign a technical agreement with Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer. The agreement would cover the refurbishment and modernization of the Honduran Air Force's Super Tucano and F-5 aircraft.

 

The Honduran government will resume the repair project for the Air Force's EMB-312/A-27 Super Tucano and Cessna A-37B Dragonfly aircraft which was initiated by the previous administration of President Porfirio Lobo. President Hernández is also considering the possibility of acquiring new aircraft such as the Embraer EMB-314/A-29 Super Tucano.

 

The Air Force has been seeking to acquire a new batch of A-29s for quite some time. Unfortunately, funding was difficult to obtain and after much consideration, President Porfirio Lobo decided in February 2012 that priority would be given to repairing the Air Force's existing fleet of Embraer EMB-312 Tucanos rather than buying new Super Tucanos.

 

The Honduran MoD expected the upgrade to cost between $6 million and $10 million; only six aircraft would be involved in the program. Then in October 2013, the government determined that due to Honduras' poor financial situation, an upgrade could not be performed either.

 

The goal now is to modernize and repair 20 EMB-312s and acquire at least 4 new EMB-314s.

 

The technical agreement would involve the transfer of Honduras' F-5 to Brazil. The transfer would require U.S. approval, though. Honduras acquired 12 ex-USAF Northrop F-5E/Fs in 1987; only five of the remaining nine are operational. Taiwan, Brazil, and Israel are all interested in restoring the fleet.

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3 décembre 2013 2 03 /12 /décembre /2013 17:45
Nigeria interested in buying Super Tucanos

A Mauritanian Super Tucano

 

29 November 2013 by Guy Martin – defenceWeb

 

The Nigerian Air Force is considering buying Super Tucano trainer and light attack aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer.

 

Nigerian Vice President Namadi Sambo expressed interest in purchasing the Super Tucano during a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Michel Temer earlier this week.

 

Sambo and Temer held talks on bilateral relations between Nigeria and Brazil, and announced the creation of working groups on security and defence, amongst other areas, reports Xinhua. An agreement on intelligence sharing, particularly regarding drug-related crimes, will be signed soon. The two parties also discussed the possibility of repatriating 377 Nigerian prisoners in Brazil.

 

Brazil and Nigeria also discussed other possibilities for cooperation in fields such as trade, agriculture, mining, culture and energy. Trade between Nigeria and Brazil has grown from $1.6 billion in 2002 to $9.1 billion last year, Temer said.

 

Brazil and Nigeria have enjoyed warm defence relations – for example, in September 2012 the Brazilian Navy offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Amazonas (P120) visited Nigeria and conducted training with Nigerian personnel and vessels. Earlier this year Brazil’s new OPV Araguari (P122) visited Nigeria on its way home from the United Kingdom. Apart from Nigeria, it also visited Cape Verde, Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea.

 

Nigeria has a strong requirement for an aircraft like the Super Tucano as it battles the domestic Boko Haram insurgency and also deploys combat aircraft to foreign countries on peacekeeping operations. The country is expected to vastly increase its defence spending over the coming years, and according to a recent Strategic Defence Intelligence report, the Nigerian defence market will go from $2.3 billion this year to $4.4 billion by 2018.

 

Piracy and oil smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea and a contribution to peacekeeping operations are expected to drive the country's military expenditure to register a growth rate of 13.62% over the next five years. The domestic Boko Haram insurgency is also expected to drive Nigeria’s security needs. The country’s growth in military expenditure will be assisted by the country's stable economic growth over the forecast period, which will a see rise in defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP from 0.8% in 2013 to 1.1% in 2018, according to the report.

 

“The growing threat from Boko Haram and other extremist groups in northeastern states, and drug trafficking are expected to drive the Nigerian government's investments in homeland security over the forecast period. Police modernization and homeland security infrastructure developments are expected to be primary areas for investment by the government,” the report noted.

 

Nigeria can be expected to buy military hardware such as naval helicopters, fighters, patrol vessels, and armoured personnel carriers over the next five years, mainly from foreign suppliers.

 

African Super Tucanos

 

Embraer has recorded a number of orders for its Super Tucano from African countries, which see it as a low cost light attack aircraft that can also be used as a trainer. On the continent, the Super Tucano has been ordered by Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal. Embraer is highly optimistic about future orders for the type from Africa.

 

Angola officially received its first three of six Super Tucanos in July this year and is using them for border surveillance, attack and pilot training. Burkina Faso was the first African country to take delivery of a Super Tucano, receiving three aircraft in September 2011 for border patrol missions. In October last year Mauritania received their first aircraft, featuring sensor turrets for surveillance duties, although they will also be used for counter-insurgency missions.

 

In April Senegal bought three A-29 Super Tucanos as well as a training system for pilots and mechanics. It will use the aircraft for border surveillance and internal security duties.

 

Over a dozen global customers have purchased the A-29 Super Tucano. The fleet has surpassed 180 000 flight hours and 28 000 combat hours, according to Embraer.

 

The A-29 Super Tucano is capable of performing a broad range of missions that include light attack, aerial surveillance and interception, and counter-insurgency.

 

The Super Tucano is equipped with a variety of sensors and equipment, including an electo-optical/infrared system with laser designator, night vision goggles, secure communications and data-link package.

 

Armament comprises one .50-caliber machinegun in each wing. Five hardpoints can carry a maximum external load of 1 550 kilograms (3 420 lb). Weapons options include gun pods, bombs, rocket pods, and (on the two outboard stations) air-to-air missiles.

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20 novembre 2013 3 20 /11 /novembre /2013 18:25
TenCate selected by Embraer for supplying ballistic protection for A-29 Super Tucano

 

Nov 20, 2013 ASDNews Source : TenCate

 

TenCate Advanced Armour has been selected by aerospace manufacturer Embraer as the supplier of aerospace armour for the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano military aircraft. The aircraft will be supplied in partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) as the prime contractor for the aircraft. No financial details will be published.

 

The Embraer EMB 314 – also named A-29 Super Tucano – is a turboprop aircraft designed for light attack, counter-insurgency, close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions in low threat environments, as well as providing pilot training. It is currently in service with the air forces of Angola, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Mauritania. The A-29 has been ordered by Senegal and the United States. February 27, 2013, the U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected the Embraer Defense and Security´s A-29 Super Tucano for its Light Air Support program.

 

Tier 1 aerospace armour company

 

Steen Tanderup, managing director of TenCate Advanced Armour EMEA states: “Embraer’s decision for supplier selection in this major high-end aerospace aircraft confirms that TenCate Advanced Armour has developed into a fully accepted tier 1 aerospace armour company. The EN9100 certified facility of TenCate in France is providing the design, development and production of dedicated high quality aerospace ballistic protection for a number of high-profile helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft projects. This production plant is at the required level and will further evolve in the near future. In this way TenCate will contribute to increase the protection of aircrews and aircraft platforms in hostile environments”.

 

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17 septembre 2013 2 17 /09 /septembre /2013 07:25
Embraer on Schedule with Jacksonville A-29 Super Tucano Assembly Facility

Sep 17, 2013 ASDNews Source : Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A

 

Embraer Defense & Security Inc. announced, today, at the Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition that the company is on schedule with its Jacksonville, Florida, assembly facility to begin deliveries in mid-2014 of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for the Light Air Support (LAS) program.

 

There have been several developments since the contract award was announced on February 27, 2013.

 

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26 juillet 2013 5 26 /07 /juillet /2013 11:35
Around 20 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will be provided to Afghanistan Air Force in 2014. Photo Embraer SA.

Around 20 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will be provided to Afghanistan Air Force in 2014. Photo Embraer SA.

26 July 2013 airforce-technology.com

 

Tactair Fluid Controls has been selected as hardware supplier for the US Air Force's (USAF) recently-awarded light air support (LAS) contract.

 

Awarded to the team of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Embraer Defense and Security in February, the controversial $427.5m LAS contract covers the delivery of a total of 20 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to help the Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) address its security requirements.

 

As LAS contract supplier, the company will be responsible for delivery of the emergency park brake valve and accumulators for use on the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

 

Fitted with single or dual gain braking curves, pressure sensing and an integrated parking function, the Tactair emergency park brake valves are specifically engineered to be manually actuated through a lever or cable quadrant.

 

The brakes are capable of providing an alternate method for brake pressure maintenance upon the main system failure, as well as constant parking brake pressure in park mode.

"Representing the US's support to Afghanistan following strategic withdrawal at the end of 2014, the LAS contract also includes delivery of associated maintenance and training support to the AAF."

 

Usually, the brake valve and hydraulic accumulator are paired together to provide emergency brake pressure and volume compensation in park mode.

 

The contract value and performance period remained undisclosed.

 

Representing the US's support to Afghanistan following strategic withdrawal at the end of 2014, the LAS contract also includes delivery of associated maintenance and training support to the AAF.

 

Expected to be delivered in the summer of 2014, the aircraft will be used by AAF for advanced flight training, surveillance, close air support or ground troops and air interdiction missions.

 

At least 88% of the aircraft is expected to be manufactured using parts delivered by more than 100 US companies from 20 states or countries that qualify under the Buy America Act.

 

Manufacturing work is scheduled to be carried out by US workers in Jacksonville, Florida, while training will be provided in Clovis, New Mexico, US.

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25 juillet 2013 4 25 /07 /juillet /2013 11:45
Angola officially receives Super Tucanos

23 July 2013 by defenceWeb

 

The National Air Force of Angola’s training capability has received a major boost with the acceptance of the first three of six Super Tucanos on order, and the delivery of six Cessna 172R trainers.

 

The first three Super Tucanos were accepted during a formal ceremony held in the capital Luanda on July 12. Chief of General Staff General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda officiated at the event, which was also attended by generals, officers and soldiers.

 

Nunda said the Super Tucanos would be used for training fighter pilots and for the attack role. He praised the type’s ability to operate in all weathers from short, unprepared runways. The chief of staff said the armed forces would allocate the necessary funding so the aircraft are maintained correctly, allowing them to fully serve the pilots who will fly them.

 

Embraer delivered the first three aircraft to Angola during a ceremony at its Gaviao Peixoto facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 31. Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defence and Security at the time said that the selection of the Super Tucano by the Angolan air force demonstrated the great potential of the Super Tucano in Africa. “It is a robust, versatile and very efficient combat-proven aircraft with low operating costs and has generated great interest among other African nations.”

 

In Africa, the Super Tucano has also been ordered by Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal.

 

Angola operates the earlier EMB-312 Tucano, buying six new-production Tucanos plus two Embraer company demonstrators, which were delivered in 1999, followed by six more, delivered in 2004.

 

Nunda said that after receiving the Cessna 172R trainers at the beginning of this year, the arrival of the Super Tucanos marks the ambitious re-equipping of the Angolan air force and the overall rebuilding of the armed forces, as directed by President and Commander-in-Chief Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

 

The six Cessna 172Rs were acquired through a contract signed with American company Africair in 2010. Defence Minister Candido van-Dunem handed over the six aircraft to Lobito’s Military Aeronautical School on April 20 this year. As part of the Cessna 172 acquisition, the Angolan Air Force also received a Cessna 172 TDI Level 5 Flight Training Device (FTD), provided by fixed wing and helicopter simulator manufacturer Frasca.

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14 juin 2013 5 14 /06 /juin /2013 07:35
AT-29 Super Tucano  photo Embraer

AT-29 Super Tucano photo Embraer

Jun. 13, 2013 by Stephen Trimble - FG

 

Washington DC - The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) today rejected an attempt by Beechcraft to overturn a controversial, $427 million contract awarded to a Sierra Nevada/Embraer team to supply 20 A-29 Super Tucanos to the Afghan air force.

 

The GAO decision appears to complete the final chapter of a three-year acquisition saga over the light air support (LAS) contract in which the US Air Force was forced to re-compete the original deal awarded to the Sierra Nevada/Embraer team after discovering undisclosed errors in the documentation process.

 

The Sierra Nevada/Embraer team won the second competition again last February, although the value of the deal had increased by 25% since the previous award in 2011.

 

Beechcraft filed a protest with the GAO less than two weeks after the contract award. In the previous competition, Beechcraft appealed the GAO's decision with the Court of Federal Claims, but this time the company appears to have accepted the rejection, albeit conditionally.

 

Beechcraft is now calling on US lawmakers to intervene by preventing the USAF from awarding follow-on deals involving the A-29 to other countries besides Afghanistan.

 

"Beechcraft remains confident that the AT-6, which was rated 'exceptional' by the air force, was the better choice for LAS and is the best aircraft for US partner nations in need of light attack aircraft," the company says.

 

The LAS programme was conceived as a means for the USAF to equip certain allies with a counter-insurgency fighter. The USAF pays for the aircraft to be delivered and provides the partner country with training and access to sensors and weapons.

 

The Sierra Nevada/Embraer team and the Beechcraft AT-6 were the only bidders for the award. The competition grew heated as Beechcraft attacked the A-29's Brazilian roots, despite the heritage of the AT-6 as a licensed derivative of the Switzerland-based Pilatus PC-9.

 

"Today's decision is a win for the American warfighters and our allies in Afghanistan who urgently need this light air support capacity to fulfill our mission there," says Taco Gilbert, vice-president of integrated tactical solutions for SNC's intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance business area.

 

The Sierra Nevada/Embraer team plans to deliver the first A-29 to Afghanistan in mid-2014.

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11 juin 2013 2 11 /06 /juin /2013 16:25
SuperTucano photo Embraer

SuperTucano photo Embraer

Jun. 11 , 2013 by Dave Majumdar – FG

 

Washington DC - Embraer will display its A-29 Super Tucano at the Paris air show for the first time, a top company official says. The aircraft will not fly, but will be on static display.

 

"We are going to bring our Super Tucano to Le Bourget," says Luiz Carlos Aguiar, chief executive of Embraer Defense and Security. "This is the first time in history the airplane will be there."

 

The A-29 that will be on display at Paris is an aircraft destined for Mauritania, Aguiar says. The nation has so far taken deliver of two light-attack aircraft from a three-unit order signed in March 2012.

 

Aguiar says it is important for Embraer to showcase the Super Tucano after the company's victory over Beechcraft's AT-6 during the US Air Force's Light Air Support (LAS) contest. While the 20 aircraft that are to be delivered for the LAS contract are for Afghanistan rather than for the USAF's own use, the service's selection is an important endorsement of the Super Tucano's capabilities.

 

"After our win in the US, it seems to me that the interest from other countries is increasing," Aguiar says. "We expect to have more sales of the A-29."

 

There have already been two new customers for the aircraft since the LAS selection: Guatemala and Senegal, he notes. Moreover, there is growing interest in the Super Tucano in Africa, Asia and Latin America. So far, Embraer has delivered 175 Super Tucanos out of a total order book for 216 aircraft, and the company hopes to add more sales.

 

Currently, Embraer builds 12 Super Tucanos per year, but Aguiar expects production to ramp up to 20 per annum in the future. The company will have the capacity to build 24 additional aircraft per year at its new US-based facility in Florida, Aguiar says. The first example to be built in the USA will start assembly towards the end of 2013 and will be delivered by June 2014, he adds.

 

Meanwhile, Embraer is making headway on its other flagship project, the KC-390 tanker/transport. Engineering drawings have been released to component suppliers and parts for the first two prototypes are under construction, says Aguiar, who adds that the company expects to make a big announcement about the programme during the Paris air show.

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24 avril 2013 3 24 /04 /avril /2013 07:35
Afghan Air Force Waits on Light Attack Aircraft

April 23rd, 2013 by Richard Sisk - defensetech.org

 

Despite years of effort by U.S. trainers, the fledgling Afghan Air Force still lacks the planes and the pilots to bomb and strafe in support of its own ground forces and won’t have that ability anytime soon, the top U.S. air commander in Afghanistan said Tuesday.

 

“They don’t,” Air Force Maj. Gen. H.D. “Jake” Polumbo said when asked if the AAF had the ability to back up the Afghan army in combat. “They have no close air support capability as we would define it. It will take time,” said Polumbo, director of the air component of the International Security Assistance Force.

 

In a video briefing to the Pentagon from Kabul, Polumbo said that the AAF should begin getting attack aircraft sometime in 2014 with the hoped for arrival of the first of 20 Embraer A29B Super Tucano light air support prop planes which the U.S. bought for the AAF for $427 million.

 

But that timetable assumes that the Super Tucanos will survive another challenge for the contract from Beechcraft (formerly Hawker Beechcraft), maker of the competing AT-6B Texan II prop plane. The General Accountability Office is currently reviewing the viability of the Beechcraft challenge, and another round of lawsuits was a possibility.

 

Kansas lawmakers are backing the challenge from Kansas-based Beechcraft while Florida and Ohio politicians are rallying round the Super Tucano, which would be assembled in Jacksonville, Fla., with avionics made by the Sierra Nevada Corp. at a plant in Centennial, Ohio.

 

And even assuming that the Super Tucanos arrive on time, there is still the problem of finding Afghans who can be trained to fly them.

Afghans who have been showing up for training in the Afghan Air Force couldn’t read and write, Polumbo said, and an entire class had to be sent home recently because they were illiterate. Flying the Super Tucano “requires English and full literacy capabilities,” Polumbo said.

 

“Building the AAF from the ground up is no easy task,” said Polumbo, echoing the sentiments of his predecessor as air commander, Maj. Gen. Todd Wolters.

 

The AAF currently has about 6,000 personnel in the projected overall force of 352,000 soldiers and police in the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), but Polumbo said the “early signs are encouraging” for the new Afghan airmen.

 

The AAF currently is flying aging Russian-made Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters but adding the fixed-wing ability to support ground troops was vital as NATO forces withdraw all combat troops by the end of 2014, Polumbo said. “We know that (tactical) air is a critical enabler,” said Polumbo, who doubles as commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan. “The Taliban have no match for it.”

 

The Afghans and the remaining NATO forces will have to rely for close air support on U.S. and allied fixed-wing aircraft. As the troops withdraw, the air support will increasingly come from “over the horizon” from U.S. carriers in the Persian Gulf and Gulf airbases, Polumbo said.

 

When the troops are withdrawn, the focus of the air war in Afghanistan will shift to drones for tactical air and reconnaissance, Polumbo said.

 

“I come back to the remotely piloted aircraft,” Polumbo said. “They can collect intelligence, but they also are armed. And they’re armed to be able to provide force protection to our coalition forces and then when our coalition ground force commanders, when they deem it appropriate, they can control that air-delivered munition capability from the RPAs to be put in support of the Afghans.”

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5 avril 2013 5 05 /04 /avril /2013 07:25

kc390

 

Apr. 3, 2013 - By AARON MEHTA  - Defense News

 

In 2006, Embraer Defense & Security, Brazil’s largest defense company, earned $227 million in revenue. In 2012, it cleared $1 billion in revenue for the first time. That economic growth has mirrored the company’s emergence on the world stage, a presence the company is confident it can increase even as nations around the world cut defense spending.

 

With the U.S. Air Force selecting Embraer’s Super Tucano as the light air support (LAS) contract winner to supply Afghanistan with new turboprop combat planes, the company now has a foothold in America and eyes on worldwide expansion with its KC-390 transport plane. Defense News talked to company CEO Luiz Carlos Aguiar on March 14 as part of a company-sponsored trip to Brazil.

 

Q. You’ve talked about seeking out niche markets. How does the company target these and capitalize on them?

 

A. We have great experience doing that, not just on defense. On defense, we have a couple of examples, such as the [LAS contract]. When the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer designed these airplanes, it was designed for the Brazilian mission. Later, we found we had discovered a niche product for countries like Brazil that had challenges on their borders, trying to control the narco-traffic, drugs, arms and other things like that. The Philippines, Indonesia, even Central America, there is a great challenge to control the drugs there. The Brazilian Air Force had introduced a new aircraft, and later other air forces decided it was the right one to combat these kind of problems we have all over the world.

 

Another case is the patrol and surveillance aircraft based on the ERJ-145 [a civilian regional jet]. It’s a very cost-effective airplane. It is now being utilized by Mexico, by Greece, by India and others. It was again based on the Brazilian budget constraints.

 

Other countries have a lot of cuts and they need to have a surveillance system. For their missions, they don’t need to buy a larger airplane — they need something smaller. Once again, we found our niche for that.

 

Q. How is the KC-390 transport plane different from past products?

 

A. When we thought about this airplane, it was the first time we looked at the international market also, not just the Brazilian requirements. We balanced both needs. We saw the market first. We saw there were 2,000 old airplanes all over the world in more than 70 countries, very well spread out with a diversified base of potential customers. We looked at that and saw there was only one aircraft available in the market being produced and being delivered [the C-130].

 

We looked at the market and then came back to the Brazilian Air Force to talk with them about what they think about their cargo airplanes for the future. They said they were probably going to replace with more C-130s, and we started talking and showed them we were able to develop something in a very feasible way. It took two years working together to launch and sign the contract. It was a much more sophisticated process. We are on schedule, and I think we have a great chance to sell abroad.

 

Q. What other products do you have an eye on exporting?

 

A. When you look at the land side of it, we have the C4I capabilities with the company we just bought, Atech. We need to invest more money on that, we need to have more contracts to develop the technology, but there are capabilities already in place.

 

The radar company, Orbisat, once again has a chance in Brazil to produce and deliver [for Embraer’s border security system] Sisfron, and then we’ll have an economy of scale and a great chance to mature this product and export it also. We are focused on C4I, radars. And our bet is intelligence and communications.

 

Q. You’ve said you view the LAS contract as establishing the company in the American market. How do you expand?

 

A. We need to consolidate first and execute this program. We have a new company there, which is Embraer Defense & Security, incorporated in the U.S. We need to find someone who will manage it, a local, American executive to run this business for us. And then we’re going to write down a new business plan for America that, in my opinion, must include certain types of acquisitions. We need to think a little more about it.

 

First thing is getting there, executing this program [LAS], getting closer to increase our credibility with the end user. We are certain in this. But we want to take this opportunity to get to know our end user. We’re going to find and study the market.

 

Our main objective is two pillars: mobility and surveillance. These two operational capabilities are what we are focused on. Any type of acquisition, any type of project, will be under these two pillars.

 

We don’t want to go into armaments or other areas. Why? Because despite all of the budget constraints, these two areas need capabilities. Even in these specific areas, the budget in Europe or the U.S. might grow despite the fact the entire [defense] budget is shrinking.

 

Q. Are you worried about Beechcraft’s challenge to the LAS contract award?

 

A. No. The process was so robust. Senior people took control of the process. They have internal and external advisers. I think they did the right thing, they did it by the book, and they will prove that. It’s going to take some time, but I think this time we’re going to get there. We are ready to go right away in order to deliver on time, but we need to be patient and wait a little bit more, unfortunately.

 

Q. Could the Beechcraft challenge impact the timing of the contract?

 

A. I hope not. At this stage, it is very difficult to say something. [The U.S. Air Force] needs to [act] carefully so it does not open any gap in the process. That’s the way it is.

 

Unfortunately, our competitors are going downhill. They discontinued a lot of products that in the past were the champions of the market, and they tried to keep this as if it was their survival. They keep saying that they have the lower price. But mission capabilities, past performance and price, there are three variables and the [request for proposal] is quite clear on that. [USAF] took all of the information, put it inside their model, and then said who is the winner. That’s the way it is.

 

Q. Is Brazil’s long-delayed F-X fighter jet program coming soon, and what role will Embraer have?

 

A. I think Brazil is going to make this decision. It is time to make this decision. They have everything in place. All of the contenders have offered their offset programs. It’s more than mature enough to go ahead, in my opinion. I think it’s going to be in the next months, this year, I would say. Our role in that depends — I cannot tell any details — depends on who is going to win.

 

We have a memorandum of understanding with all three of the contenders. Each of them offers an offset program, but we prefer not declaring publicly our preference because we don’t want it to jeopardize the choice. It is a governmental decision, and we will respect that. Whatever they choose, we’re going to be in the process. They need to make this decision because Brazil needs that.

 

And it will have huge benefits for industry as well. There are new technologies, products and developments. There are opportunities for Embraer to leverage our current technology through the F-X. With the F-X, we can even go further in terms of technology, and even some new products could come up with one of these three contenders. That’s what I can tell you, I can’t go further than that.

 

Q. Did the decision to recompete the LAS competition hurt the chances of a U.S. company winning the F-X program?

 

A. There is no formal relation between the two programs. Formally. But goodwill is important. I couldn’t say that the [F/A-18 Super Hornet] is not going to be selected, but for sure, the way that [the initial LAS contract] happened in the United States — choosing a Brazilian aircraft, then canceling the contract, the way it happened — it caused some kind of bad blood, right? It’s a normal, human perception.

 

Q. But you don’t think there was long-term damage to the relationship between the two countries?

 

A. No, I don’t think so. Now, it is different. There are some steps that any competitor in the United States has the right to do. It doesn’t mean the [USAF] is canceling the contract; they are trying to keep our victory. One year ago, they looked at the process, saw some gaps, made a mistake and they canceled the contract. Now it’s different. They are trying to defend their choice. So far, so good. No problem at all with the relationship. It’s a part of the game there. That’s the way it is, there are rules and laws.

 

Q. What is next for Embraer?

 

A. We’re going to have a lot of new projects. And they are big. We’re talking about $20-25 billion in the next 10 years. If you look back, it started in 2008, when we had the new national defense strategy. After that, you had the mobility project with KC-390, the submarine project with the French company DCNS, the Sisfron.

 

In any society, you want to develop technology and protect yourself, because there are threats you didn’t have before. There are more things happening in Brazil right now, and we need to protect ourselves. There are high-level, added-value products we can develop and export. That’s our objective. We don’t see the maximum market as just selling in Brazil and continuing the process later. We try to focus where we can add value, build up a capability, and sell abroad. That’s the way it is.

 

COMPANY PROFILE

 

• 2012 revenue: $1.06 billion

• 2012 backlog: $3.4 billion

• Key businesses: Aerospace, border security, ISR and integrated solutions.

• Key markets: Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific

Source: Defense News research

 

———

 

Mehta reported from San Jose Dos Campos, Brazil.

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