The E190-E2 commercial jet could gain a maritime patrol variant, Embraer’s Defense and Security CEO, João Bosco da Costa Junior, revealed to Aviation Week.
According to the executive, the military E190-E2 project must rely on international partners to get off the ground. The news came just on the eve of the Dubai Airshow, a place where Embraer could have conversations with several potential companies.
Currently, Embraer does not have an aircraft aimed at maritime patrolling and anti-submarine warfare, although in the past it has developed a variant of the Bandeirante commuter aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the EMB-111.
Despite this, the Pakistan Navy has had Lineage 1000 executive jets (first generation E190) converted for this purpose since 2020. The program, however, does not include the participation of the Brazilian company.
According to Aviation Week, one of the configurations evaluated includes a nose-mounted radome, an internal compartment in the rear portion of the fuselage to carry sonobuoys and anti-ship missiles on pylons in the belly of the aircraft.
The main product of the maritime patrol aircraft market is the Boeing P-8A Poseidon, based on the 737. There are also turboprop versions such as the Airbus C295, but of small size and range.
France and Germany launched a project to transform the A320 into a maritime patrol aircraft, but development has not progressed to date.
Given this scenario, an E190-E2, an aircraft for up to 114 passengers, offers a good-sized cabin to accommodate the crew and equipment, as well as great autonomy.
One of the jet’s potential customers could be the Brazilian Air Force itself, which operates nine old P-3 Orion turboprops, which were transferred by the USA in the last decade.
