domingo, 8 de julio de 2012

THE KC-390 TANKER/TRANSPORT. EMBRAER BIG PROJECT AND THE ARGENTINE PARTICIPATION


EL AVION TANQUE Y DE TRANSPORTE KC-390 DE EMBRAER; LA PARTICIPACION DE ARGENTINA EN EL PROYECTO


"The Brazilian air force's requirement that KC-390 tanker/transports serve civil and military markets is underscoring prime contractor Embraer's approach to the airplane's product strategy.

Embraer is emphasizing the use of proven systems and components, many adapted from its own commercial programs, in keeping with the service's goal that the tanker will have broad appeal as a lower-cost competitor to the Lockheed Martin C-130J. It is slightly larger than the venerable U.S. transport, with a top payload capacity of 23 tons over a 1,400-nm range, and will feature such cockpit features as dual head-up displays and sidestick controllers.

The Brazilian air force (FAB) has ordered 28 of the twin-engine transports and identified a requirement for 10 more in the long term. In addition, Embraer has gathered declarations of intent-to-order for an additional 32: two for the Czech Republic and six for Portugal—both NATO members—plus six for Argentina, six for Chile and 12 for Colombia

First flight is set for 2014. In keeping with the 2009 contract it signed with the FAB, Embraer will seek civilian certification from the FAA first, in 2015, and then move on to military certification a year later. Said Paulo Gastao Silva, Embraer vice president and KC-390 program manager.

Risk-sharing partners with specialized skills and track records with Embraer have been chosen to broaden the KC-390's overseas customer base:

•Portugal Engineering Manufacturing (OGMA) will build composite landing-gear sponsons, doors and elevators. The company, in which Embraer holds a 65% stake, also will make composite parts, while Embraer will produce aluminum parts.

•Aero Vodochody of the Czech Republic, which produces door assemblies for the Embraer 170/190, will design and build the KC-390's fixed leading edge and provide other packages, including the cargo ramp, crew doors, emergency doors and hatches. All are metallic. Embraer will make the Segment 2 aft fuselage behind the ramp that joins with the empennage. It will also build center fuselage sections fore and aft of the wing, and the rear door to the center fuselage.

•Argentina's FAdeA (Fabrica Argentina de Aviones) is to manufacture the tail cone, cargo ramp door, spoilers and nose-wheel landing-gear door from composites at its Cordoba factory.

“So this puts FAdeA back into the aerostructures business,” Silva says. “I think it will be a good partnership.”

The tail cone is metallic and composite; the cargo doors are all metallic. FAdeA also will produce a flap fairing, the electronics rack and composite nose-wheel landing-gear doors. "(1)


Esperemos que no suceda lo mismo que pasó con el proyecto del CBA-123!



1) De AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY, 23/30 APRIL 2012, pg 75

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