Page 6 - INDO DEFENCE 2022 - DAY 2

EMBRAER STRENGTHENS INDUSTRIAL

PARTNERSHIP WITH KOREA

Embraer has entered into several refueling configuration, the KC-390, are
Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) new generation of multi-mission military
with South Korea aerospace compa- transport aircraft. The Brazilian Air Force
nies ASTG (Aerospace Technology of (FAB), was the launch operator of the
Global), EMK (EM Korea Co.) and Kencoa KC-390 Millennium and has a fleet of five
Aerospace. The Brazilian airframer is aircraft, which have already exceeded 7,000
competing in the Large Transport Aircraft flight hours in operation, with a 99 per cent
(LTA) II Programme being run by the mission completion rate, demonstrating
Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme excellent availability and productivity in its
Administration (DAPA). The Republic of category.
Korea Air Force (ROKAF) operates C-130
and CN-235 transport aircraft. The FAB’s KC-390s took part in the
Multinational Joint Military Exercise
Embraer is looking to strengthen its col- SALITRE IV, in the Atacama desert region
laboration with Korean defence industry from 10-21 October. During more than
partners for the future supply of parts for 300 air missions of this exercise, which
the C-390 Millennium aircraft. The poten- had about 50 daily take-offs, the KC-390
tial supply of South Korean manufactured maintained a 100 per cent missions accom-
parts will contribute to the offset require- plished rate. Its range and in-flight refueling
ments of the LTA II Programme. Embraer capabilities were extended during the exer-
says the MoUs are also intended to create cise through removable fuselage tanks,
long-term business relationships between which can be installed and uninstalled in
both parties which will endure for the LTA II just a few hours, and add up to 12,000 kg
Program and beyond. “Embraer is very con- of fuel to the aircraft’s capacity.
fident on the mutual benefits to be gained
from this collaboration, thus creating a sus- The Netherlands Ministry of Defence
tainable and growing relationship between selected the C-390 Millennium in June to
Embraer and the partners in South Korea”, replace its fleet of C-130 Hercules transport
said Jackson Schneider, President & CEO, aircraft. The Portuguese Armed Forces and
Embraer Defence & Security. the Hungarian Defence Forces will begin
operations with the KC-390 in 2023 and
The C-390 Millennium and its aerial 2024, respectively.

into a contract with Airbus Defence and
Space S.A., Spain in September 2021 for
procurement of 56 C-295MW transport air-
craft worth Rs 219 billion. Under the terms
of the contract, 16 aircraft will be delivered
in ‘flyaway’ condition and the remaining 40
will be manufactured in India by the Indian
aircraft contractor, TATA Consortium of
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)
and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led
by TASL. The first 16 fly-away aircraft are
slated for delivery between September
2023 and August 2025. The first ‘Made in
India’ aircraft is expected from September
2026. All 56 aircraft will be fitted with an
indigenous electronic warfare (EW) suite
developed by Indian defence public sector
undertakings (DPSU) – Bharat Electronics
AIRBUS C-295MW FOR INDIA TO BE Ltd (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited
(BDL). This is the first instance in India
MADE IN STATE OF GUJARAT of a military aircraft being manufactured
by a private company. Previously, all mili-
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has Indian Air Force (IAF) at Vadodara, in the tary aircraft in the country were produced
laid the foundation stone of a transport Western Indian State of Gujarat. India’s by the state-owned airframer, Hindustan
aircraft manufacturing project for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had entered Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

6 | NOVEMBER-03-2022 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS