Following the sales campaign KC-390 Millennium military jet, Embraer signed today (29) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SAMI, a leading defense company in Saudi Arabia. The agreement, signed during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to the kingdom, seeks to promote the C-390 in the country and may include local manufacturing of the jet.
Em note, Embraer says the memorandum seeks to expand Embraer's aircraft maintenance capabilities in the kingdom. Thus, the companies are targeting the establishment of a Regional MRO Center (maintenance, repair and overhaul) and a final assembly line for the Embraer C-390, as well as the integration of the mission system into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Lula ended his visit to the country this Wednesday, where he sought to strengthen relations with the kingdom and promoted Brazilian industry. “I'm here in Saudi Arabia, at the Embraer event, the third largest commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world, to strengthen trade between the two countries”, said the president on his social media.
Last week, Lula had already received a delegation from Sweden to talk about the export of the C-390 to the European country, in a tied sale that involves the purchase of more F-39 Gripen fighters for the Brazilian Air Force.
I am willing to defend Brazilian companies abroad, because it is the president's role to promote companies from his country. That's why I'm here in Saudi Arabia, at the Embraer event, the third largest commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world, to strengthen trade...
- Lula (@LulaOficial) November 29, 2023
“We are very pleased to have signed the agreement with Embraer, which could bring new and production facilities to the country. The growth in our business scope and capabilities highlights SAMI’s dedication to advancing and ing the development of the aerospace sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” says Eng. Walid A. Abukhaled, CEO of SAMI.
“It is another important step in SAMI's efforts to Saudi Vision 2030, to strengthen the country's self-sufficiency in defense and contribute to localizing 50% of defense spending in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by 2030. Even though the expansion of our MRO capabilities are important, key to this agreement is the establishment of t training activities, to the development of Saudi talent and the transfer of valuable skills in the aerospace sector”, complete.
Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, also said he was satisfied with the agreement, stating that it is just the first step towards greater advances in defense cooperation between Brazil and Saudi Arabia. “With this Memorandum of Understanding, Embraer advances even further into a strategic market. We will work to add value to the local industry, the Royal Saudi Air Force and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
As with other successful businesses, Embraer wants to sell the C-390 to replace the RSAF's already veteran fleet of C-130 Hercules freighters. The country has 40 of these aircraft, 33 for transport and seven KC-130 for in-flight refueling.
The KC-390 is in service with the air forces of Brazil and Portugal and has already been selected by the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Countries such as South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and India have already shown interest in the aircraft.
