Brazil’s Embraer will develop and produce unmanned drones with Israeli tech

As part of the joint venture, a new company – Harpia Sistemas S.A. – will be created in which Embraer will hold 51% stake and AEL Sistemas, Elbit’s Brazilian subsidiary, the remaining 49%.

The main goal of the agreement is to “focus on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles market” Embraer said in a press release.

The new company will be headquartered in Brasilia and its activities will involve marketing, development, systems integration, manufacture, sales and UAV after-sale support, as well as flight simulators and the modernization of avionics systems.

Harpia Sistemas “will provide broader solutions for complex systems, increasing the market-share of Brazilian-made products in the national defence and security market,” according to Embraer, the world leader in the regional jet market and also manufacturer of military aircraft.

“Included among the guidelines of Brazil’s national defence strategy are the pursuit of partnerships for technological development and capacity and the manufacture of national defence products,” Luiz Carlos Aguiar, president of Embraer Defence and Security, said.

“The creation of Harpia,” he added, “will be an important instrument for meeting the needs of the armed and security forces”.

To fully participate in the process of technology transfer from Elbit Systems, Embraer Defense and Security will also acquire 25% of AEL Sistemas’ capital.

AEL currently supplies the avionics for Embraer’s Super Tucano light attack and advanced training turboprop, as well as the F-5M fighter jets, Embraer said in the press release.

Brazil’s Federal Police launched a program two years ago to monitor the country’s land borders with UAV equipped with powerful cameras manufactured by Israeli state-owned firm Israel Aerospace Industries.

Police acquired two Hermes 450 drones from Elbit Systems to conduct surveillance in the Brazilian Amazon.