Brazil’s Embraer and Portugal’s OGMA to build NATO-approved aircraft

Jose Mucio, Brazil’s Defence Minister has announced that Brazilian planemaker Embraer is to team up with Portugal’s aerospace company OGMA to manufacture aircraft in Portugal which will meet with NATO requirements, according to REUTERS news agency. Currently Embraer, which holds a 65% stake of OGMA’s capital manufactures a light attack plane, the Super Tucano.

Last week saw the launch of the A-29 Super Tucano which had a NATO configuration in order to meet the requirements of various European nations. Mucio said NATO certification of the company’s aircraft could open doors in the European market and others and that producing the planes in Portugal was “important because it already meets NATO’s pre-requisites”.

“We are going to manufacture Brazilian aircraft with NATO characteristics,” said Mucio, who at the time was in Portugal with other ministers as part of a five-day state visit by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. A delegation of Brazilians is due to visit the OGMA premises located near Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on Monday April 24.

Embraer is also responsible for manufacturing the KC-390 military cargo transport plane and is looking to expand its market share. Recently both Sweden and Colombia have expressed interest in the aircraft, while it is understood that Austria is in advanced discussions with Embraer for the acquisition of four or five KC-390s.

Mucio said Embraer wanted to export the KC-390 to more European countries. ” The President (Lula) wants to encourage the Brazilian defence industry and increase investment in the defence industry,” Mucio said.

Embraer multinational aerospace manufacturer that produces commercial, military, executive and agricultural aircraft and provides aeronautical services. It was founded in 1969 in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, where its headquarters are located. The company is the third largest producer of civil aircraft, after Boeing and Airbus.