Brazilian manufacturer Embraer [ERJ] recently awarded Britain’s Cobham plc a $30 million contract to develop and supply its Auxiliary Fuselage Fuel Tank for Embraer’s KC-390 tanker aircraft, according to a Cobham statement.
Cobham spokesman Greg Caires told Defense Daily in an email Wednesday the auxiliary tanks will provide additional fuel carriage capability, additional fuel off-load capability for air-to-air refueling operations and extended range when the aircraft is configured for humanitarian efforts. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is the launch customer for the KC-390.
Caires said exact production quantities are contingent on a separate production contract between Embraer and the FAB, which hasn’t been reached. Caires said delivery of the tanks is scheduled to meet the production schedule of the aircraft, which is due to enter service in 2015.
Embraer awarded Cobham a contract in excess of $60 million in 2011 to develop and supply the KC-390 effort with Wing Aerial Refueling Probes (WARP) and to design and manufacture the aircraft’s nose radomes. Caires said WARP development activities are progressing in accordance with the project milestone plan agreed to by Embraer and that delivery of the first WARPs is scheduled for the end of 2013.
Caires also said the WARP program is in its engineering development phase and just passed a preliminary design review (PDR). Caires said Cobham is under contract to produce 30 WARPs and the company expects more as foreign sales of the aircraft pick up.
Caires said Cobham has also been selected by Embraer to provide the Air Refueling Probe (ARP) and composite radar nose cone.