| E-99/P-99/R-99 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brazilian Air Force E-99 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) (E-99) Remote sensing (R-99) Maritime patrol (P-99) |
| National origin | Brazil |
| Manufacturer | Embraer |
| Status | Active in service |
| Primary users | Brazilian Air Force (E-99M/R-99) |
| Number built | 6 (EMB-145-SA) 3 (EMB-145-RS) 2 (EMB-145-MP) 4 (EMB-145-H) 3 (EMB-145-I) |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1999–present |
| Introduction date | 2001 |
| First flight | 1999 |
| Developed from | Embraer ERJ-145 |
TheEmbraer R-99 is theBrazilian Air Force (FAB) military designation of the EMB-145-RS. Various models of the aircraft have been produced to perform special mission duties, including the E99 forairborne early warning and control (AEW&C) missions, the R-99 forremote sensing, and the P-99 formaritime patrol.
Development of the R-99 began during the 1990s in response to a FAB requirement for anairborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, as well for the export market. The airframe is based on theERJ 145 civilregional jet and modified with specialised mission equipment based on the mission role desired. It is typically powered by a pair ofRolls-RoyceAE1 3007 turbofan engines; the military versions provide 20% more thrust than the civil version.[1] Themaiden flight of the R-99 took place in 1999; it entered operational service with the FAB two years later.
Export customers for the type include theHellenic Air Force,Mexican Air Force, and theIndian Air Force. Some customers have opted to buy the airframe and separately outfit it with their own electronics packages. It has been deployed in response to various events, including theShining Path hostage crisis, the loss ofAir France Flight 447, the2011 military intervention in Libya, and theSIVAM program. During the 2010s, the FAB opted to modernise their R-99 fleet, not only extending its service life but also giving it new capabilities, such as a longer effective radar range anddatalink facilities. Embraer has proposed new variants of the type, such as the armedP-99anti-submarine warfare (ASW), which is to be capable of using bothtorpedoes andanti-ship missiles.
TheR-99A/E-99/EMB 145 AEW&C is anairborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, equipped with theErieyeactive electronically scanned arrayradar fromSaab Microwave Systems. During the aircraft's development, particular attention was paid to market interest as well the specific requirements of theBrazilian Air Force (FAB).[2][3] The FAB have claimed that R-99 has 95% of the capability of larger AEW&C aircraft which are in service in the air forces of other nations.[citation needed] During 2008, the FAB redesignated the R-99A as the E-99, the factory name for the Embraer EMB-145SA (Surveillance Aircraft), a special military conversion of the passenger version of the Embraer ERJ-145LR.
TheR-99B/R-99/EMB 145 MULTI INTEL is aremote sensing aircraft. It employs asynthetic aperture radar, combination electro-optical andFLIR systems as well as a multi-spectral scanner. The aircraft also possesses signal intelligence and C3I capabilities. During 2008, the FAB redesignated the R-99B as the R-99, for the Embraer EMB-145RS (Remote Sensing), a special military conversion of the passenger version of the Embraer ERJ-145LR.
TheEMB 145 MP is the maritime patrol version of the EMB-145. It shares much of the same sensor suite as the R-99B, but most visibly, lacks the multi-spectral scanner and the side-looking radar. It retains many of theC3I andELINT capabilities of the EMB-145-RS.[4]Mexico was the launch customer for this variant.[5][6]
TheP-99 would be theanti-submarine warfare (ASW) modification of theEMB 145 MP and would have four underwinghardpoints, which could be mounted with a variety oftorpedoes and/oranti-ship missiles. No prototype with those modifications was ever flown.
During June 2019, it was announced that Embraer had partnered with theIsraeli defense electronics companyElta Systems to develop theP600 AEW, which will be initially based on theEmbraer Praetor 600 super-midsize business jet.[7] In December 2020, an Embraer spokesperson stated that the P600 AEW system is likely to eventually replace the E-99 AEW; however, the Brazilian Air Force has currently committed itself to the moderization of its existing E-99 fleet, thus it is likely that the E-99M will be in service for a long time, while there were no orders placed for the P600.[8]
During September 2003, a Brazilian R-99 was deployed on request ofPeruvian authorities to locate the site where 71 hostages were being kept by the armed groupShining Path. The aircraft detected the origin ofVHF signals, and thus aided the Peruvian authorities in the recovery of the hostages.[9][10]
On 1 June 2009, a R-99 was deployed on the search for the missingAir France Flight 447. The fact is reported as the first real mission of a Brazilian R-99 on maritime search. The R-99 synthetic-aperture radar allowed to locate — even at night and under bad weather conditions — aircraft's debris and victims bodies 800 km away fromFernando de Noronha Archipelago. Various pieces of debris from the lostAirbus A330-200, the largest being theempennage and agalley, were located by the R-99.[11][12]
During early 2011, a Greek EMB-145-H was deployed to perform AEW missions as part of the2011 military intervention in Libya, specifically in the enforcement of ano-fly zone over Libya, in response to theLibyan Civil War.[13][14]
TheIndian Air Force has procured an initial three aircraft, which have been outfitted in India with an AESA radar array developed by theElectronics and Radar Development Establishment along with adatalink,identification friend or foe (IFF),radar warning receiver (RWR), and other systems. The first aircraft was delivered from Brazil on 16 August 2012 while the second followed in December 2012.[15][16][17] The Air Force has the option to purchase another seven aircraft.[18] Following a long "technology absorption" process, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been selected as the Engineering and Life Support Agency (ELSA) for India's DRDO's (Defence Research and Development Organisation) EMB-145i AEW&C mission systems, while Embraer will be responsible for supporting the aircraft. The platform is in service with No. 200 Squadron IAF, based atBathinda AFS.[19]
InBrazilian service, the E-99 and R-99 are based inAnapolis AFB. Five E-99s and three R-99s are operated by the Brazilian Air Force as part of theSIVAM program.[20] Starting in 2013, these E-99s have undergone a modernization program that involved the updating of all onboard electronics, including a new Erieye-ER (extended range) radar, the same used onGlobalEye Detection range increased from 450 km to 723 km in the E99M version.[21] The range of targets that can be detected ranges from vessels and large aircraft to watercraft, rubber dinghies and vehicles, as well as hovering helicopters.[22] The first E-99M ("M" stands for modernized) was handed over to Brazilian Air Force on 27 November 2020.[23][24]
During 2022, during theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Hellenic EMB-145H's flew several daily combat missions, monitoringNATO allied airspace overRomania andBulgaria while covering part of theBlack Sea.[citation needed]
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Related development
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