GAVIAO PEIXOTO, Brazil - Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force have signed a series production contract for the new KC-390 military transport. The contract provides for the purchase of 28 aircraft over a period of 10 years, with the initial delivery scheduled for late 2016.
Besides the 28 aircraft, the contract provides for supply of a logistical support package, including spare parts and maintenance. At a total value of BRL7.2 billion ($3.3 billion), the contract depends on complementary documentation in order to go into effect, which is expected to occur within 90 days. At that time, Embraer will formally include it in the company's order book.
Embraer has also formally opened the final assembly line for the KC-390 at the firm's plant in Gaviao Peixoto in Brazil. The KC-390 is to be produced at the plant in facilities that include more than 30,000 square meters of hangars, where the initial KC-390 prototype is currently in the structural assembly phase. Final assembly is planned to begin in June 2014.
The KC-390 is a joint project of Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force to develop and produce a tactical military transport and aerial refueling aircraft. It is intended to have the flexibility to perform a variety of missions, including cargo and troop transport, cargo deployment, aerial refueling, search-and-rescue, and forest firefighting.
"This is a historic day for the Brazilian Air Force," said Brigadier General Juniti Saito, the service's commander. "The KC-390 is a project that was carefully specified to serve our nation, in total alignment with the guidelines of the National Defense Strategy, and it will represent a great leap in the operating capacity of air transportation."
"We are very happy to achieve another great landmark in this challenging project," said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. "Few countries in the world can experience the pride of operating aircraft that were specified, developed, and manufactured on their own soil and, once again, the partnership between the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer is generating a product that promises to be an outstanding worldwide success."
The development contract for the KC-390 was signed in 2009. Besides the order by the Brazilian Air Force, Embraer has received intentions from other countries for the purchase of 32 additional KC-390s. International Aero Engines' V2500-E5 turbofan has been selected by Embraer to power the KC-390.
