Twin-Turbofan Aircraft To Enter Service In 2015
There's a new player in the increasingly crowded medium-lift
military transport game. In a ceremony held Tuesday during the
seventh edition of the Latin America Aero and Defence (LAAD) trade
fair, Embraer signed a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB)
for the turbofan-powered KC-390 military transport aircraft
program.
The event was attended by the Minister of Defense, Nelson Jobim,
the Head of the Navy, Admiral Júlio Soares de Moura Neto,
the Brazilian Aeronautics Commander, General Juniti Saito, and
Embraer President & CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.
"The launch of the KC-390 program is
a new landmark in the historical strategic partnership between the
Brazilian Air Force and Embraer," said Frederico Fleury Curado,
Embraer President & CEO. "We are convinced that the development
of the KC-390 will result in an effective cargo and tanker aircraft
for the FAB and shall also become another successful export
platform for both Embraer and Brazil."
The FAB established the requirements for the new aircraft, as it
did for previous Embraer military programs like the Super Tucano.
The new jet will meet the needs of the FAB, in full compliance with
the new National Defense Strategy. The participation of other
countries in this program will be evaluated, in conjunction with
the FAB, and the aircraft is expected to enter service in 2015.
As ANN reported, Embraer first confirmed
development of the transport plane at LAAD 2007. The KC-390 will be
the heaviest aircraft ever developed by the Brazilian planemaker,
able to lift 19 tons of cargo.
The KC-390 will be the first proposed medium-lift transport
aircraft to be powered by dual turbofan engines. The aircraft is
slightly larger than the C-27J Spartan, smaller than a C-130, and
significantly smaller than the proposed Airbus A400M --
all of which are turboprops.
Embraer notes the KC-390 Program "will contribute, in the short
term, to maintaining highly qualified jobs, and, longer-term, it
has the potential for generating significant export volumes with
important aggregate value. The existence of a study regarding this
military transport aircraft was presented two years ago, at LAAD
2007. The jet will have a cargo bay equipped with an aft ramp, to
transport a wide variety of types of cargo, including armored
vehicles, and will be outfitted with the most modern systems for
handling and launching cargos."
The new jet will be able to be refueled in flight, as well as
used for in-flight or on-ground refueling of other aircraft. The
cargo bay will allow configurations for Medical Evacuation
(MEDEVAC) missions. The technical advances of the KC-390 include
fly-by-wire technology, and the capability for operating on short,
unimproved runways.
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