By ANDREW CHUTER Published: 14 Apr 2011 05:16
RIO DE JANEIRO - Embraer has continued to put in place the supply chain for its KC-390 military airlifter with announcements at the Latin American Aerospace and Defense show here that it had signed up Aero Vodochody of the Czech Republic and FAdeA of Argentina.
The Brazilian aerospace and defense company said Aero Vodochody will supply aerostructures, including fixed leading edges, parts of the rear fuselage, a number of doors and the cargo ramp for the prototype and serial production aircraft.
FAdeA will manufacture spoilers, doors, nose landing gear, ramp door, flap fairings, tail cone and other parts for the new jet-powered rival to the C-130.
Last year, the Czech and Argentine governments signed declarations of intent to acquire small numbers of KC-390s.
Chile, Columbia and Portugal have signed similar deals, but the industry involvement has not yet been specified .
Luiz Carlos Aguiar, the president of Embraer's defense and security division, told Defense News that he didn't expect to see other national partners join the program at this point.
In recent weeks, the Brazilian company has also appointed DRS to be the cargo handling and aerial delivery system supplier and ELEB, an Embraer subsidiary, to provide the landing gear.
Aguiar said he hoped to finalize the decisions on key suppliers for the engine and cockpit in the next three months.
Production of the first prototype is expected to start in 2013, followed by the first flight in 2014. The Brazilian Air Force is the launch customer.
Defense News
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