Portugal joins Embraer and Brazil on C-390 ISR capabilities study
The ongoing study was first announced by Embraer in late 2024 with the Brazilian Air Force, with this latest addition announced during the LAAD defence and security exhibition.
The systems are for Embraer C390 Millennium aircraft and Airbus H225M helicopters. (Image: Elbit Systems)
Elbit System has been awarded a US$175 million contract to supply electronic warfare (EW) and DIRCM self-protection suites to a NATO European country for installation on Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft and Airbus H225M helicopters.
As part of the C-390 contract, Elbit Systems will provide its Self Protection Electronic Attack and Reconnaissance (SPEAR) electronic countermeasure pod, which can be transferred between aircraft.
Additionally, the C-390 contract includes an agreement with another European country, providing for the delivery of the EW suite for installation on C-390s.
The system to be installed includes a range of warning, detection and counter-measure systems as well as MUSIC (Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasure) systems.
The contracts are expected to be executed over the course of this decade.
The names of the countries were not disclosed but only Hungary operates both types. Another NATO country operating the C-390 is Portugal, with the Czech Republic and the Netherlands also due to receive the aircraft.
These add to several other contracts awarded to the company over the past year for equipping various fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including Boeing Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and Airbus H145M helicopters with self-protection suites.
As well as standard MUSIC the system also comes as J-MUSIC for medium-to-large fixed-wing aircraft and C-MUSIC for Israeli commercial aircraft.
The ongoing study was first announced by Embraer in late 2024 with the Brazilian Air Force, with this latest addition announced during the LAAD defence and security exhibition.
The potential sale, approved by the US to the Philippines, is for 20 F-16 Block 70/72 jets, days after US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth visited the country.
The acquisition of four C-390 aircraft follows the country’s signing of an MoU in 2023 and formal selection in 2024. It will join the existing contract held by the Netherlands and Austria.
The counter-UAS prototype, named Low-cost Air Defence or ‘LOAD’, will be used to combat kamikaze UAS.
The aircraft is the first of 66 to be delivered to Taiwan from Lockheed Martin.
The contract award, worth $240 million, is part of the ongoing effort by the US Army to modernise its Block II Chinook rotorcraft fleet.