Brazil's Chosen Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft

[Researcher Ki-hwan Lee, Command and Reconnaissance Research Team 2, Defense Technology Quality Institute] The Brazilian Air Force received the first modernized EMB 145 airborne early warning and control aircraft named E-99 from Embraer in November. As part of this contract, four additional E-99 aircraft will be further modernized.

As part of the modernization process, mission systems and related subsystems, including electronic warfare, command and control, electronic countermeasures, and airborne surveillance radar, were updated. Through this, the Brazilian Air Force expanded its capabilities in flight control, warning missions, and electronic reconnaissance.

The E-99M aircraft project was carried out by COPAC, the Brazilian Air Force procurement agency, with support from Embraer and several international suppliers such as SAAB, AELI, and Rohde & Schwarz. This project includes a technology transfer agreement that supports technological advancement for the Brazilian defense industry in addition to modernization.

The E-99 aircraft is the designation given by the Brazilian Air Force and is based on the ERJ 145 civilian regional jet. This aircraft is equipped with Rolls-Royce AE1 3007 turbofan engines. Additionally, as an airborne early warning and control aircraft, it is fitted with the Erieye active electronically scanned array radar produced by Saab Microwave Systems of Sweden.

The Brazilian Air Force’s E-99 aircraft utilizes the successful ERJ 145 regional jet platform to detect, track, and identify targets within the patrol area and then transmit this information to allied forces. It can also perform airspace management, fighter positioning and interception control, signals intelligence, and surveillance missions. Meanwhile, over 1,200 ERJ 145 aircraft have been sold, accumulating more than 30 million flight hours.

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