Discussions could lead to customised version of EMB-145SAspecial mission aircraft
Embraer has started talks with India's centre of air intelligence to establish a "platform-independent" surveillance software integration facility.
The Brazilian manufacturer hopes the agreement could lead to Indian-specific surveillance versions of its EMB-145 special mission platform, based on the ERJ-145 regional jet, and export derivatives using Indian-developed software.
Eduardo Munhøs de Campos, Embraer's director of international defence negotiations, says talks are taking place at government level, but adds that India has described Brazil's experience in mid-sized surveillance aircraft as "superior".
Munhøs de Campos says Indian software expertise is "among the best in the world" and the "most natural co-operation will be to integrate Indian surveillance software into Embraer platforms". The Indian air force has a priority to acquire an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform and has approached Embraer to work on a specification for an Indian version of the EMB-145SA AEW&C aircraft, says Munhøs de Campos.
He adds that the company could also form a systems integration joint venture, that could be platform independent, working on upgrading the air force's Antonov An-32 transports, or it could work with Israel Aircraft Industries on the Phalcon AEW aircraft.
Romualdo Monteiro de Barros, Embraer executive vice-president defence market, says India is keen to find a surveillance aircraft that is independent of US technology, and that India agreed to start the collaboration only when it was assured that the EMB-145 contains "no US-manufactured strategic components".
Source: Flight International
