Brazilian Firm to Provide Aircraft to Afghan Air Force

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter called Brazilian Minister of Defense Celso Amorim this evening to inform the Brazilian government about the decision made by the United States Air Force to award Sierra Nevada Corp./Embraer SA a $427 million contract to provide light air support aircraft and associated maintenance and training for the Afghan air force, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today.

Sierra Nevada Corp. is based in Sparks, Nevada, and Embraer SA is its Brazilian subcontractor.
Under this contract, 20 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to operational air bases in Afghanistan beginning in the summer of 2014 to conduct advanced flight training, surveillance, close air support and air interdiction missions, Little said.

This platform, he said, is critical to providing enabling support to the Afghan National Security Forces as part of United States enduring support to Afghanistan following the completion of the ISAF mission at the end of 2014.

Minister Amorim also extended his best wishes to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on his first day in office, Little said.

The two leaders, Little added, noted they look forward to scheduling the next U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Dialogue and continuing defense cooperation between the United States and Brazil.