Embraer has successfully delivered the fifth EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft, designated as E-99M, to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The upgraded aircraft, based on the ERJ 145 regional jet platform, is equipped to perform critical functions such as Airborne Early Warning and Control, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and airborne reconnaissance.
The E-99M boasts advanced capabilities, including the ability to detect, track, and identify targets within its coverage zone, transmitting crucial information through Data Link technology. Its versatile role encompasses airspace surveillance, interception control and management, electronic intelligence, and border monitoring missions.
“The delivery of the fifth E-99 is an important milestone for the E-99M project. This is the first aircraft delivered in FOC (Full Operational Capability) configuration, with systems fully certified for use by the Brazilian Air Force for protecting the country and its national sovereignty. The four aircraft previously delivered will be upgraded so that they can fully perform all the missions for which they were designed,” according to Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Key enhancements to the E-99M include an upgraded Erieye Radar, Command & Control (C2) systems, Electronic Warfare (Non-Communication – NCOM) systems, a new IFF Transponder, and seven software-defined V/UHF radios. The aircraft is further equipped with a new Mission Audio system featuring VoIP technology, a Mission Audio and Data recorder, and a Data Link function adapted to a new architecture. The interior has been revamped to enhance crew comfort, featuring five redesigned and optimized consoles for efficient use of upgraded systems.
The project is a collaborative effort led by the Combat Aircraft Program Coordinating Committee (COPAC), involving Embraer and international suppliers such as SAAB, Aeroelectronica International (AELI), and Rohde & Schwarz. Atech, an Embraer subsidiary, is actively contributing to the project by developing a portion of the command-and-control system, along with six mission planning and analysis stations designed to offer training and development opportunities for the crews.
The EMB 145 AEW&C platform, in addition to serving the Brazilian Air Force, is also operational in the air forces of India, Mexico, and Greece. The successful upgrade of the E-99M reinforces Embraer’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to enhance the capabilities of air forces globally.