Embraer Defense & Security (EDS) is part of Embraer, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence conglomerates. Every 10 seconds, an aircraft manufactured by the company takes off globally, carrying over 145 million passengers annually. Since its inception in 1969, Embraer has been an innovator, leading in Commercial Aviation, Executive Aviation, Defense & Security, and Services & Support markets. With a history of manufacturing over 8,000 aircraft, Embraer’s workforce at the end of 2022 comprised 18,872 collaborators, with 14,960 in Brazil and 3,912 abroad.

Embraer Defense & Security (EDS) stands out as a key player in the aerospace and defence industry. The portfolio includes the A-29 Super Tucano, C-390 Millennium military airlift, and various integrated solutions like Command and Control Center (C4I), radar systems, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), and space capabilities. The company also offers expertise in specialised aircraft for VIP transportation and unique mission requirements. With an expanding global presence, the products and solutions from Embraer Defense & Security are currently deployed in over 60 countries.

“Embraer develops high technologies that are used throughout its portfolio and bring benefits to all stakeholders. Our jets are designed for high reliability, high speed, long missions, and aggressive performance, with the highest technology, offering unbeatable cost-effectiveness.”
—Bosco da Costa Júnior, President & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security

According to Bosco da Costa Júnior, President & CEO, “Embraer Defense & Security has products and solutions in more than 60 countries and is known worldwide for the quality and excellence of its aircraft and solutions. Beyond that, the company has invested a lot in diversifying its product portfolio, currently offering comprehensive solutions that include systems for air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains. We also export radars. Embraer has shown its ability to adapt and innovate in the face of changing scenarios in the defence arena and deliver top-notch products and solutions.”

PRODUCT RANGE

C-390 Millennium. The Embraer C-390 Millennium, and its air-to-air refuelling (AAR) variant, the KC-390 Millennium, is proving itself to be a force multiplier for military forces around the world. Military customers and those that have been involved in missions involving the C-390 Millennium have been impressed by how the aircraft’s performance and reliability surpasses their expectations.

Since its entry into service to the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the C-390 Millennium has proven its capability, reliability, and performance across a variety of challenges. The C-390 Millennium has demonstrated that it can aid air forces to swiftly respond to an array of real situations such as military operations, emergencies like evacuation of people from conflict zones, and humanitarian relief missions triggered by floods, forest fires, earthquakes, or COVID-like situations.

The Brazilian Air Force currently operate five KC-390s and more deliveries are underway. The fleet has already accrued more than 7,500 flying hours and recent numbers from the Brazilian Air Force’s KC-390 Millennium fleet have shown a mission completion rate of 99 per cent, demonstrating outstanding productivity in its category. The key strengths of the C-390 are its robust design, dual certification approach (civil and military), greater flexibility, proven state-of-the-art technology and ease of maintenance. The C-390 Millennium flies faster (470 kts) and further on a standard crew duty day. It also carries more cargo (26 tonnes) compared to other medium sized military cargo aircraft.

Super Tucano. The A-29 Super Tucano is a light attack and advanced training aircraft, known for its cost-effectiveness and adaptability. The A-29 Super Tucano provides an optimised training solution, supporting light attack and air reconnaissance training. The aircraft also allows instantaneous reconfiguration from combat to training, and vice versa, enhancing the fleet productivity and delivering the best value and most comprehensive solution for the Air Force.

The P600 AEW&C. The P600 AEW&C combines the best in aircraft technology, best-in-class operational costs, with state-of-the-art sensor technology to create a modular and adaptable solution to meet individual customer requirements. With superior aircraft performance and an advanced mission system, the P600 AEW&C provides accurate and reliable surveillance in the aerial and maritime environments at a fraction of the cost of modern AEW&C systems. A complete communication suite ensures interoperability and joint operations with existing assets.

Other Integrated Systems and Solutions. Embraer Defense and Security provides a full line of integrated solutions and applications such as Command and Control Center (C4I), radars, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) and space. This also includes integrated systems for information, communications, border monitoring and surveillance as well as aircraft for authorities’ transportation and special missions. With a growing presence on the global market, Embraer Defense & Security products and solutions are present in more than 60 countries.

INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE

Embraer Defense and Security has successfully expanded its footprint beyond Brazil, with a growing list of international customers. The company’s aircraft are utilised by various armed forces globally, showcasing the global acceptance of their products.

Just a few days back, on December 4, 2023, South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Embraer’s C-390 Millennium as the winner of the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender to provide the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with new military transport aircraft. South Korea is the C-390 Millennium’s first customer in Asia. Embraer will provide an undisclosed number of C-390 Millennium aircraft specially configured to meet ROKAF’s requirements, as well as services & support including training, ground support equipment and spare parts. “We welcome the Republic of Korea Air Force to the growing number of air forces operating the C-390 Millennium – the most modern military tactical transport aircraft. Day after day, the aircraft has proven its capability to complete a wide range of missions with great efficiency, serviceability and speed,” said Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security.

Embraer and the Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security (NIDV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering ongoing initiatives associated with the C-390 Millennium and A-29 Super Tucano. The MoU between Embraer and NIDV adds to Embraer’s existing partnerships and strategic relationships in the Netherlands while structuring a joint framework aimed at exploring additional opportunities aligned with the priorities of the Netherlands’ Defence Industry Strategy. Contributions from the Dutch ecosystem to the supply chain of the Embraer C-390 programme for export markets will remain a central goal.

In June 2022, the Netherlands selected Embraer’s C-390 airlifter, becoming the third European nation to opt for the Brazilian-built airlifter after Hungary and Portugal. The Netherlands decided to acquire five C-390s, with the first delivery scheduled for 2026.

Earlier this year, in October 2023, the first KC-390 Millennium of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) entered into service with standard NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) equipment already integrated into the aircraft. In 2019, FAP ordered five KC-390 aircraft, a comprehensive services and support agreement and a flight simulator.

In November 2020, the Hungarian Government and Embraer signed a contract for the acquisition of two new generation multi-mission transport aircraft Embraer C-390 Millennium, in its air-to-air refuelling (AAR) configuration, designated KC-390 including pilots and technicians training as well as other services and support. Deliveries are expected to start in 2024.

In September 2023, Austrian Air Force announced that it will buy four Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft in a deal expected to be worth more than €500 million ($532 million) and in October 2023, Czech Republic announced the start of negotiations on potential acquisition of two new-generation multi-mission Embraer C-390 Millennium, identified as the most suitable solution for meeting the requirements of the Army of the Czech Republic.

Also, in the first quarter of this year, Embraer reached a new agreement with the Philippine Air Force to provide support services for the fleet of six A-29 Super Tucano light attack advanced training aircraft delivered to the Philippine Air Force in 2020. Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano has been in operation with more than 15 Air Forces around the globe, accumulating about 5,00,000 flight hours through 260+ aircraft ordered.

ACQUISITIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS

To consolidate its leading position in Latin America and offer comprehensive defence solutions that combine strategic knowledge and cutting-edge technology, Embraer Defense & Security holds the control of a set of companies with recognised expertise in critical areas of intelligence, monitoring and control:

Recognised as the “System House” of the Defence Industrial Base, Atech has a successful track record in delivering onboard and command and control systems for civil and military areas. Atech solutions assure safe and efficient systems designed within the aspects of each scenario. The Arkhe product family constitutes vital systems for several countries, contributing to mission planning, surveillance, cyber security and decision making, including training.

Embraer Defense & Security has invested into two cybersecurity companies, TEMPEST and KRYPTUS, as part of an effort to diversify its business. The company took a majority stake in Tempest Security Intelligence, a cybersecurity services firm and has also invested in Kryptus, a cybersecurity and cryptology firm. Kryptus also does encryption work for the Brazilian military, including the country’s Air Force, Army and Navy.

SAVIS, a subsidiary company, is dedicated to developing, designing, integrating and implementing systems and services in the area of border monitoring and protection of strategic structures. Bradar Indústria S/A is a technology based company, specialised in remote sensing, electronic equipment and radars for aerial and ground surveillance.

Visiona Space Technology is a joint venture between Embraer and Telebrás devoted to space systems integration. Combining Embraer’s systems integration skills and INPE’s accumulated satellite integration knowledge, Visiona has a key role in Brazilian space industry, coordinating the industry business actions to provide solutions to civil and military Brazilian satellite needs. The company is the prime contractor for SGDC (Geostationary Defence and Strategic Communications Satellite) programme, which offers broadband internet connectivity to Brazilian cities as part of the National Broadband Program and is also the strategic communications system backbone of the Brazilian military.

OGMA Indústria Aeronáutica is part of the Embraer Group, that offers a complete portfolio of services for Defence, Commercial and Executive aviation as well as for aircraft engines, components and engineering within the MRO market.

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Embraer invests about 5 to 6 per cent of its net revenue in research and development (R&D). The company has five research centres in Brazil and one abroad (Netherlands). Embraer has more than four thousand employees committed to R&D, and are focused on adopting and adapting techniques, technology, and materials to deliver sustainable and affordable solutions to meet the world’s aviation, defence, and security challenges. As Bosco da Costa Júnior, President & CEO, said, “Embraer develops high technologies that are used throughout its portfolio and bring benefits to all stakeholders. Our jets are designed for high reliability, high speed, long missions, and aggressive performance, with the highest technology, offering unbeatable cost-effectiveness. New requirements are continuously updated, and whatever the mission requirements, there will be an Embraer solution ready for it.”

Embraer Defense & Security (EDS) stands as a testament to Brazil’s aerospace prowess and its commitment to providing innovative and cutting-edge solutions to the global defence and security community. With a rich history, a strong track record of success, and a relentless focus on innovation, EDS is poised to continue shaping the future of defence and security worldwide for years to come.