Embraer progresses on clean-sheet military program

It has been over two years since Embraer announced that it would be developing the KC-390 military airlift and tanker jet under a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which established the requirements for the aircraft as it did with other Embraer military programs.

IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO YEARS since Embraer announced that it would be developing the KC-390 military airlift and tanker jet under a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which established the requirements for the aircraft as it did with other Embraer military programs. In fact, the FAB has the final word on the selection of suppliers for systems considered as strategic, such as propulsion, avionics, mission, self-protection, cargo handling, and aerial delivery, among others.

Since that time, there have been a number of announcements about the team that will be working together toward first flight and then production. The most recent, from the middle of November, was that IAE AG would be providing the powerplant, a militarized application of its V2500 engine and a new market for the company.