The Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer is setting its sights on broadening its footprint within the defense sector by targeting key international markets. The defense division of Embraer is keen on scaling up the distribution of their C-390 Millennium aircraft, focusing on strategic regions including India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the United States.
Amidst the current endeavors, India has publicly announced its intention to procure military aircraft, while Saudi Arabia engages in preliminary talks with Embraer. The Middle Eastern kingdom is exploring options to modernize its existing Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules fleet. According to Embraer’s defense lead, Bosco da Costa Junior, although Saudi Arabia has not formally opened a tender, the nation’s need to refresh its C-130s is evident.
“They don’t have an open tender, but they need to replace their old C-130s. We did a lot of studies and concluded that the (Embraer) C-390 could deliver additional capability in this replacement process,” Costa Junior stated.
The possible deal with Saudi Arabia could entail up to 25 aircraft units. Embraer anticipates a decision from the Saudi government within a two to four-year timeframe. The company’s C-390 Millennium has already been chosen by several countries, including Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, and South Korea.
Seeking to bolster its international presence, Embraer’s defense segment is also eyeing Sweden as a prospective client. To facilitate this growth, Embraer has established partnerships with Mahindra in India and Saab in Sweden to promote the C-390.
Moreover, Embraer has been proactively engaging with various sectors in the United States, contemplating mergers or acquisitions and proposing the C-390 to branches of the U.S. military such as the Marines, Air Force, and special forces.
“We do believe that the C-390 could add additional value to those entities in the U.S.,” expressed Costa Junior. “We would like to become a partner of the U.S. government.”
When questioned about the potential impact of a partnership with China on U.S. relations, Costa Junior underscored that Embraer’s defense operations maintain no ties or dialogues with the Asian nation, emphasizing a strong alignment with U.S. and NATO interests.
“We are 100% U.S.- and NATO-oriented,” he affirmed.