HARTFORD (dpa-AFX) - United Technologies Corp.(UTX) said Saturday that Embraer Defense and Security, in concurrence with the Brazilian Air Force, recently announced that International Aero Engines AG has been chosen to provide the powerplant for the country's new KC-390 multi-role tanker/transport aircraft. The company said IAE will provide the 2500 engine.
International Aero Engines is a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders are comprised of Pratt & Whitney which is a part of United Technologies Corp (UTX), Rolls-Royce (RR), Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines.
The KC-390 development program was launched in April 2009 and the Brazilian Air Force formalized its intent to purchase 28 aircraft in July of last year.
Five additional countries have agreed to join as industrial partners, with resulting aggregate purchase intentions now totaling 60 airplanes. It will also be marketed globally, representing opportunities for further growth.
'The selection of IAE's V2500-E5 brings about the merger of a well known and proven engine with a winning clean-sheet design military program. It is very important for us to be closing the selection of main suppliers and partners in order to start working with them in this new phase,' said Embraer Defense and Security President and CEO Luiz Carlos Aguiar.
Engineering work on the program has already commenced at IAE's shareholder companies: Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, MTU and JAEC. First deliveries of powerplants for prototype aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2013, with flight tests to start the following year. Production powerplants are anticipated for 2015, with entry into service projected for later that year. Deliveries are anticipated to last at least through 2030.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX