FIDAE 2006:On the scope

On the eve of South America’s FIDAE show, Embraer sees strong demand for special-mission ERJ-145s, but is keeping an eye on the market for a larger aircraft

Embraer is studying special-mission versions of its E-170/190 large regional-jet family, but expects derivatives of the 50-seat ERJ-145 to dominate its military sales despite losing a key US contract.

Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) and maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) derivatives of the ERJ-145 are being offered in contests in South-East Asia and the Middle East. And with the FIDAE 2006 show to be held in Santiago, Chile from 27 March to 2 April, South American interest in special-mission aircraft is growing.

As a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin on the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) programme, Embraer proposed the E-190 after the mission system outgrew the original ERJ-145, but the US Army elected to cancel the $879 million development contract (Flight International, 17-23 January).

Embraer has not given up on the US military market – or a larger special-mission platform. The manufacturer is monitoring US Department of Defense efforts to evolve the ACS requirement into a tri-service multi-intelligence platform while it continues to study special-mission applications of the E-170/190 family.

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