Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer wants the Air Force’s Light Air Support (LAS) contract because it’s like a “seal of credibility,” according to its CEO.
“The credibility of anyone supplying goods and services to the Defense Department increases opportunities abroad,” Frederico Curado, Embraer’s CEO, told reporters Tuesday in Washington. “This is really the most important thing to us.
“This stands to give us opportunities for future transactions, not only in the United States,” he added.
Curado said Embraer established its Florida headquarters in 1979 and has a very strong footprint in commercial and business jets, but the company desires a “direct customer/ supplier” relationship with a U.S. partner.
“That, for us, is an opportunity to develop a relationship and we know how important it is to have a relationship,” Curado said.
The Air Force’s Light Air Support contract with Embraer and partner Sierra Nevada Corp. was a $355 million deal to supply Afghanistan with 20 of Embraer’s A-29 turboprop aircraft. The service canceled the deal late February over documentation issues regarding the award decision. The cancellation allows previously-eliminated Hawker Beechcraft to re-bid with its AT-6.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Monday the service would publish a new draft request for proposals “later this month.” Curado said Tuesday if Embraer wins the new competition, it would be “virtually impossible” for it to deliver A-29s by the previously established goal of the first half of 2013, saying “if the decision is delayed by six months, (it is) probably going to take us the same period, six months, to deliver the first aircraft” (Defense Daily, April 12).