Lockheed Martin Leads 'All Industry' Team for
Next-Generation Airborne Battlefield Surveillance System
SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Embraer
(NYSE: ERJ), part of the Lockheed Martin team, will provide its ERJ 145
platform for the U.S. Army's next-generation battlefield surveillance system
called Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) under a Systems Development and
Demonstration (SDD) contract awarded yesterday.
Under the US$879 million SDD contract, the team will deliver five
certified, mission-ready airborne ISR systems, with initial testing planned
for 2006. The balance of the effort would be performed under a follow-on low-
rate initial production contract anticipated in 2007, followed by a full-rate
production contract in 2009. The full contract has a potential value for the
Lockheed Martin team of more than US$7 billion over the life of the expected
20-year program.
"The U.S. Army has chosen a system and an airframe that will provide
unmatched capability, economics, performance and growth -- all of which will
directly enhance the performance of U.S. Army ground forces in any part of the
world where they might deploy," said Embraer President and CEO Mauricio
Botelho. "With more than 800 units in operation and 5.5 million in-flight
hours, the well matured ERJ 145 platform has accumulated impressive
reliability, dispatch, and safety records, which, combined with its low
acquisition and operating costs, make it especially attractive for special
applications like the ACS Program. Embraer is very excited to be a part of
this team and also to be moving forward with our plans for opening a new
assembly facility in Jacksonville."
About the ACS Program
ACS will replace current ISR aircraft, including the Army's Guardrail
Common Sensor, the Airborne Reconnaissance Low aircraft and the Navy's fleet
of EP-3 aircraft. Under the System Development and Demonstration contract
awarded today, the Lockheed Martin team will combine and enhance the
capabilities of the current systems on these platforms into a single ISR
mission package on a standard airborne platform.
About the ERJ 145 Family of Regional Jets
Embraer's ERJ 145 family provides the capacity and flexibility needed by
operators to satisfy wide variations in demand and frequency that are typical
of regional markets. Embraer aircraft have a rugged, proven structural design
developed specifically for regional airline missions. They are well suited for
high-frequency use and typically operate around 2,800 flight hours per year.
The ERJ 145 family members (the 37-seat ERJ 135, 44-seat ERJ 140, 50-seat
ERJ 145, and 50-seat ERJ 145 XR) share 95 percent commonality among all
models, with low operating, crew training and maintenance costs. The ERJ 145's
systems and main components can be easily accessed, simplifying maintenance
activities and allowing faster turnarounds.
The ERJ 145 family platform has also been used to enhance Embraer's
presence in other aviation segments, including the corporate and the defense
markets. Embraer's Legacy Executive and Shuttle aircraft are derived from the
ERJ 135 platform, whereas defense products, such as the EMB 145 AEW&C
(Airborne Early Warning and Control), the EMB 145 RS/AGS (Remote Sensing/Air-
to-Ground Surveillance), and the EMB 145 MP/ASW (Maritime Patrol and Anti-
Submarine Warfare) are based on the proven ERJ 145 platform.
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Effective July 19, 2004, an improved version of Embraer's Image Gallery
will allow users faster and easier access to a wide range of photographs
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Note to Editors
Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.) (NYSE: ERJ) (Bovespa:
EMBR3 EMBR4) is a major aerospace company with 34 years of experience in
designing, developing, manufacturing, selling and providing after-sales
support to aircraft for the global airline, defense and corporate markets.
With headquarters in Sao Jose dos Campos, state of Sao Paulo, the Company has
offices and customer service bases in Australia, China, France, Singapore and
the United States. Embraer is among Brazil's leading exporting companies. As
of June 30, 2004, Embraer had a total workforce of 14,207 people, and its firm
order backlog totaled US$ 10.5 billion.
This document may contain projections, statements and estimates regarding
circumstances or events yet to take place. Those projections and estimates are
based largely on current expectations, forecasts on future events and
financial tendencies that affect the Company's businesses. Those estimates are
subject to risks, uncertainties and suppositions that include, among other:
general economic, political and trade conditions in Brazil and in those
markets where the Company does business; expectations on industry trends; the
Company's investment plans; its capacity to develop and deliver products on
the dates previously agreed upon, and existing and future governmental
regulations. The words "believe," "may," "is able," "will be able," "intend,"
"continue," "anticipate," "expect" and other similar terms are supposed to
identify potentialities. The Company does not feel compelled to publish
updates nor to revise any estimates due to new information, future events or
any other facts. In view of the inherent risks and uncertainties, such
estimates, events and circumstances may not take place. The actual results can
therefore differ substantially from those previously published as Company
expectations.
SOURCE Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
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