Embraer will produce NATO-approved military aircraft in Portugal – 04/22/2023 – Market

Defense Minister José Múcio said that Embraer will manufacture aircraft that meet NATO requirements in partnership with Portuguese aerospace company Ogma. He made the announcement on Friday night (21) during a trip to Portugal.

Embraer, which owns 65% of the capital of Ogma, manufactures several types of aircraft, including a light attack aircraft called “Super Tucano”.

Last week, the company launched the A-29 Super Tucano with NATO configuration, initially focused on meeting the needs of European nations.

But Múcio has previously said that making the aircraft — not just the Super Tucano, but others as well — in Brazil to sell them in Europe has not always met all of NATO’s requirements.

He stated that the certification of the company’s planes by NATO could open doors in the European market and others and that production in Portugal is “important because it already meets NATO’s prerequisites”.

“We are going to manufacture Brazilian aircraft with NATO characteristics,” said Mucio, who is in Portugal with other ministers for a five-day state visit by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

On Monday (24), the Brazilian delegation will visit Ogma’s headquarters, near Lisbon.

Embraer also manufactures the KC-390 military freighter and is seeking more international business to sell it.

In 2019, the Portuguese government said it would buy five Embraer KC-390 military transport aircraft and a flight simulator for €827 million. Countries like Sweden and Colombia have recently expressed interest in buying it as well.

Two sources familiar with the matter said last week that Austria was seeking to advance negotiations with Embraer for the purchase of four or five KC-390 military cargo aircraft.

Múcio also said that Embraer wants to export the KC-390 to more European countries. “The president (Lula) wants to encourage the Brazilian defense industry and increase investments in the defense industry,” added the minister.