The M200 Vigilante radar equipment was deployed on the Brazilian Air Force’s KC-390 jet and tests were conducted at Júlio Belém Airport in Parintins, Amazonas, in June and July 2023.
Embraer, in collaboration with the Brazilian Army (EB), has achieved a successful experimental test of the M200 Vigilante radar in a realistic environment. This achievement involved deploying the radar equipment on the Brazilian Air Force’s KC-390 aircraft and conducting operations at Júlio Belém Airport in Parintins, Amazonas, during June and July 2023. The Municipality of Parintins and administrators of Júlio Belém and Viracopos Airports also supported the initiative.
The selection of Júlio Belém Airport was influenced by the Parintins Folk Festival, which led to a notable increase in regional air traffic. Thousands of festival attendees arrived via the airport, resulting in over 800 take-off and landing operations in just a week. The M200 Vigilante radar, transported for the first time in a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) KC-390, monitored air traffic within a 200 km radius of the airport. The sensor operated seamlessly alongside the efforts of CINDACTA IV flight controllers, the FAB division responsible for air coordination in the Northern region.
“The Parintins Folk Festival presented an opportunity to test the performance of the M200 Vigilante in a challenging environment, such as the Amazon. Embraer’s joint operation with the Army and Air Force proved the equipment’s versatility, agility, precision and robustness in its first operation. We are very satisfied with the results, which constitute an important step in the transition to effective and operational future employment for the benefit of the Armed Forces in Brazil and abroad”, says Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security.
Embraer’s collaboration with the Brazilian Army and Air Force for this operation demonstrated the M200 Vigilante’s adaptability, agility, precision, and robustness in a challenging environment like the Amazon. This successful test represents a significant step toward its effective and operational future use to benefit the Armed Forces, both in Brazil and internationally.
“We are proud to participate and contribute to this relevant event in the Amazon region. Over more than 15 years of development in the field of sensors, the partnership between the Army and Embraer has built the technological autonomy of the now digital radars, known as phased array. Carrying out this experimental exercise was another important step in proving the technical characteristics of the M200 Vigilante, which will expand our troop’s capabilities, maintaining continued operation with the support of the Defense Industrial Base (BID)”, said Army General Achilles Furlan Neto, Head of the Department of Science and Technology, the Brazilian Army.
The M200 Vigilante radar, designed for Air Surveillance and Early Warning applications, is a medium-range sensor equipped with advanced processing techniques. It can detect, track, and classify targets while offering the convenience of integrated power generation for up to 48 hours of autonomous operation. The radar’s transportability by both land and air platforms further enhances its flexibility.
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In summary, this successful joint operation between Embraer, the Brazilian Army, and the Brazilian Air Force underscores the significant technological advancements achieved in radar systems. The test’s success marks a pivotal milestone in bolstering the country’s defense capabilities and expanding its presence on the global defense stage.
