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| Força Aérea Brasileira FAB Comando da Aeronáutica (Brazilian Air Force) |
• New tactical tanking
solution focused on contested logistics and agile combat employment
• Includes advanced boom
and resilient, open mission system to support JADC2 requirements
• Focused on
cost-effective, distributed tactical refueling for greater mission area
coverage
Arlington, Va., September 19, 2022 — Embraer S.A. (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3)
and L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) today announced a partnership to develop
an “Agile Tanker,” a tactical aerial refueling option to address the U.S. Air
Force’s operational imperatives and joint force refueling requirements
especially for contested logistics environments.
The companies signed an agreement to expand the capabilities of Embraer’s
KC-390 Millennium tactical tanker aircraft. Enhancements include the addition
of advanced boom operations and mission systems to support agile basing and
sustainment for operations in contested areas, and resilient communications
supporting JADC2 requirements.
“U.S. Air Force strategic planners have stated agile combat employment will
require refueling platforms optimized to support a disaggregated approach to
air dominance in contested logistics environments,” said Christopher E.
Kubasik, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, L3Harris. “Collaborating with
Embraer to develop and integrate new capabilities to the multi-mission KC-390
provides a cost-effective, fast-to-field solution that embodies our trusted
disruptor approach.”
Aircraft enhancements will complement the tanker’s existing capabilities,
which already include the ability to refuel aircraft with a variable speed
drogue, receive fuel, and to take off and land from short and improvised
runways, allowing for greater mission area coverage.
“We continue seeking meaningful and strategic partnerships that generate
new developments and expand the KC-390 Millennium’s market reach,” said
Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer. “Our aircraft is capturing
the attention of Air Forces around the world, and we’re thrilled by this
opportunity to combine Embraer’s state-of-the-art platform and systems with
L3Harris’ mission-driven solutions to deliver on the U.S. Air Force’s
operational imperatives.”
The Air Force operational imperatives are a roadmap for successfully
bringing about the new technologies, thinking, and cultures the Air and Space
Forces must have to deter and, if necessary, defeat modern day adversaries.
The speedy, versatile, customizable KC-390 Millennium can support a range
of missions and possesses a high reliability rate. By combining L3Harris’ experience as an
aircraft missionization prime with Embraer’s state-of-the-art jet-powered
KC-390 Millennium platform, both companies are ready to provide the next
generation of tanker solutions for the Department of Defense and the US Air
Force.
To support the Buy American Act requirements, the parties are studying the
Agile Tanker program production with final assembly in the U.S., followed by
aircraft modernization and missionization at the L3Harris’ Waco, Texas,
aircraft modification center.
Embraer and BAE Systems to market C-390 to Saudi Arabia
Embraer KC-390: Details
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