The development program of military transport jet KC-390, in charge of Embraer, is the only strategic project of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) that had government authorization for the receipt of funds approved by the Annual Budget Law (LOA) in 2015 . But the same is not true for their production.
The development of cargo is considered a top priority in the FAB, considering that any delay could compromise the aircraft's sales in the international market. "The funds are being released in installments and the total amount of R $ 771 million for this year," said the president of the Coordinating Committee of the Combat Aircraft program (COPAC), Brigadier General Paulo Roberto de Barros Tea.
Although it is considered a priority, the resources for the production phase of the aircraft have not yet been confirmed. The Budget Act provides $ 400 million to produce the KC-390 this year. The 28 aircraft production contract for the Air Force, valued at R $ 7.2 billion, was signed with Embraer in May last year. In 2014 Embraer received R $ 20 million to start production activities of the KC-390.
Certification for flight of the civilian version of the KC-390, which will be issued by ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), is scheduled for the end of 2016. Already the military certification, conducted by the Industrial Coordination and Fostering Institute (IFI) linked to DCTA, expected in the second half of 2017. The type certificate (the project) is operating safety of the security of the aircraft and compliance with design requirements.
The certification process of the KC-390, according to Brigadier Alvani Adão da Silva, director of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA), has produced about 1,500 reports between development and certification (civil and military), a third of which already It was approved. "We are now between certification plan approval stages by the authorities and the demonstration of compliance with the requirements. The KC-390 is also preparing to carry out the flight tests, critical to demonstrating compliance with the requirements."
To meet the deadlines set out in the certification work schedule, the IFI was authorized by the government to hire 34 temporary servers. All new staff will also give support to certification activities and commercial, industrial and technological compensation under the project of the F-X2 fighter.
In addition to the KC-390, the COPAC is responsible for coordinating the FAB major refit programs, including the acquisition of the Swedish Gripen NG and H225 helicopters, which are also being acquired by the Navy and the Army. For other projects, even with the approved budget, Copac not had permission to pass on the resources.
The F-X2 program have $ 1 billion approved for the year 2015. "We have the credit, but we do not have the cash to pay or the approved funding," said the President of COPAC. Regardless of the value that will be allowed for the first installment, according to Brigadier, F-X2's resources will have to be invoiced in 2015.
In the case of the program of H225M helicopters, produced for the three Forces by Helibras, President of COPAC says it was approved R $ 323 million for 2015, but the budget proposal provided US $ 538 million. The COPAC, however, not yet obtained permission to release the funds approved for the project.
