RAF FAIRFORD, England—Embraer is looking to grab a slice of Europe’s defense modernization pie with sales of the C-390 airlifter and A-29 Super Tucano.

Previously, the Brazilian OEM’s European market presence was limited to sales of its Tucano basic trainer, its Xingu light transport and the AMX light-combat aircraft that was developed with Italy during the 1980s.

Today, however, the company is making new inroads into the region.  

Portugal soon will take formal delivery of the first of five C-390 Millenium airlifters, while the Netherlands is expected by year-end to sign contracts for a planned fleet of five aircraft. 

The C-390 also is being purchased by Hungary with Budapest’s first aircraft in final assembly and interest growing from other European nations including Austria, the Czech Republic and Sweden.

Most of these nations want to use the C-390 to replace the elderly Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules that dominates Europe’s airlift scene.

At the same time, Embraer also is developing what it calls a NATO configuration of the A-29 Super Tucano specifically aimed at European customers, with development work to be conducted in Portugal. 

“I have a clear strategy to internationalize Embraer Defense and Security and make the company even more of an international player,” Bosco da Costa Junior, Embraer Defense & Security’s president and CEO, told Aviation Week’s Show News at the recent Paris Air Show. 

Nations have been attracted to the C-390 because it is the only airlifter developed in the 21st century, he notes, adding the Brazilian Air Force is seeing availability and dispatch reliability figures more akin to that in the commercial world.  

“We are confident the C-390 and A-29 can play an important role, especially here in Europe,” he says. 

Portugal has provided a useful test case for the C-390’s introduction into Europe, with Embraer installing what it calls a NATO operations package, which includes a Link 16 datalink, military satellite navigation system, new transponders and encrypted radios.  

Similar equipment is set to be installed on Hungary’s two aircraft and envisioned for the Netherlands’ five. Portugal also has recently flown its first KC-390 equipped with an Elbit-developed electronic-warfare pod on the outer wing pylons. 

Embraer is predicting a market of around 690 airlifters worldwide. 

Company officials are not expecting large orders for the Super Tucano in Europe, but they believe the platform could offer a useful capability for smaller air forces as the aircraft can be used for both training and light attack. Currently, Switzerland’s Pilatus dominates the European turboprop trainer market, but types like its PC-21 cannot be used for the light-attack mission, limiting them to the training role. The Super Tucano therefore could be attractive as a multi-role platform.  

Portugal is likely to be an early customer for the Super Tucano, having identified a need for a close-air-support platform in its new military programming law approved in March.  

Other potential missions identified for the Super Tucano in Europe include Joint Terminal Attack Controller training, providing a lower-cost platform compared to fast jets. 

Embraer also is supporting negotiations between the Brazilian Air Force and Saab on a future batch of Gripen E fighters on top of its existing order for 36. 

Brazil will assemble 15 of the 36 F-39E/F Gripen fighters ordered by its air force so far but is proposing to secure more workshare on the aircraft to help reduce unit cost, potentially with domestic production of components such as harnesses or landing gear, da Costa Junior says. “Increasing the content of Embraer Defense and Security in the in the Gripen for Brazil, could help drive Saab to deliver a better proposal,” he suggests.