Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer is going to participate in the Idex fair for the third time. The event is tuned to the defense sector and includes an exhibition and conference, and is going to take place in Abu Dhabi between February 12 and 17.
The company will have a 48 square meter stand and is going to promote the Super Tucano aircraft and the airborne vigilance systems baptized ISR.
The Super Tucano is a turboprop for training and light attack that has latest generation electronic systems. The aircraft is already being used by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The first unit was delivered in December 2003. In all, the FAB has ordered 76 of the aircraft.
With regard to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, they were initially developed, according to the company, for the System for the Vigilance of the Amazon (Sivam).
The ISR is based on the ERJ 145 aircraft, the company commercial jet that has a capacity for transport of 50 passengers and is the most successful Embraer aircraft in terms of sales.
In the military version, there are three models: the EMB AEW&C, equipped with radars and antennas for “anticipated aerial alert”, the EMB 145 RS/AGS, equipped with radars for the supply of real time information and images about objects on the earth, and the PP-99, a jet designed for maritime patrol.
Last year, the ERJ 145 platform, used for the Embraer vigilance aircraft, was selected by the Pentagon for use in the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS), a vigilance system developed by the United States Army and Navy.
Embraer participated in a consortium led by Lockheed Martin, and won a tender promoted by the United States government.
Initially the consortium is going to deliver five units to be tested next year. The initial value of the contract is US$ 879 million. However, if it is extended, the total may rise as high as US$ 7 billion in 20 years.
The Fair
Idex is organized every two years by General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC), an Emirati state-owned company responsible for the promotion of business events. This year the seventh edition of the fair will take place at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition center.
In 2003, according to information supplied by the organization, the event attracted 35,000 visitors and 825 exhibitors from 45 countries.
Before travelling to the Emirates, Embraer is going to promote its aircraft in Aero India, a fair in the aviation sector to take place between February 09 and 13 in Bangalore, India.
There, apart from the military aircraft, the company is going to present its civilian jets, like the Legacy executive jet, the ERJ 145 family and the Embraer 170/190 family. The latter is made up of four models that have capacities ranging from 70 to 118 passengers.
Contacts
Embraer
www.embraer.com.br
ANBA ”“ Brazil-Arab News Agency
