“We believe that product is the right product for the competition”

At Embraer’s Pre Paris Air Show Media Days, Gary J. Spulak, President of Embraer US, told MONS that Embraer considers itself a global company, with headquarters in Brazil. he made clear that it is of utmost importance to the company to treat the customer as part of the Embraer family, which, is, according to Spulak, “embedded in our culture.”

Currently Embraer US in the process of continuing to look for Super TUCANO opportunities in the US, with Embraer Defense & Security, together with its partner, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), having been invited to participate in the US Air Force’s (USAF) Capability Assessment of Non-Developmental Light Attack Platforms (OA-X). The OA-X assessment begins in July at New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base.

The OA-X experiment is part of the USAF’s effort to explore the benefits of acquiring a new, low-cost, non-developmental light attack aircraft to provide close air support and other missions in permissive and semi-permissive environments, reduce fighter pilot training costs, and accelerate pilot seasoning. The OA-X will accomplish those objectives while preserving and extending the service lives of other jet fleets.

Manufactured in Florida and in use by a dozen air forces worldwide, the A-29 is a durable, versatile and powerful turboprop aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of fighter and ISR missions. The USAF-certified A-29 is combat-proven in Afghanistan and in theaters around the globe. The Embraer SUper TUCANO is competing against the Beechcraft T-6 TEXAN II and the Textron AirLand SCORPION

Furthermore, during a visit to Embraer’s executive jet facilities, MONS learned that the first PHENOM 100 (of five) is to be delivered very soon, as the company has secured a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide support for the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS) programme.

Under the terms of the sub-contract awarded through Affinity Flight Training Services, the company will provide five PHENOM 100 jets for the multi-engine pilot training programme intended for armed forces aircrew in the UK. Additionally, the company will provide support services and an option for additional follow on aircraft.

The PHENOM 100 is a very reliable, cost-effective and easy to operate aircraft that was also selected to provide flight training services to major international airlines.

The UKMFTS programme is a partnering agreement between UK Front Line Commands, the UK MOD, Ascent, and other industry partners to deliver aircrew training for the 21st century. The agreement is part of £178 billionn investment in equipment over the next ten years to bolster the UK’s defence capabilities for the future.