Brazil to buy two Airbus A330 military transport aircraft

Brazil buy Airbus A330 transport
Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

During a live broadcast on January 28, 2021, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said the country is seeking funds to acquire two Airbus A330 strategic transport aircraft for the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force - BAF).

According to the president, there is a lack of strategic assets for the transport of oxygen and large equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to provide support to the Amazon capital Manaus.

“R$ 500 million (about $92 million) is coming from one of those ‘pranks’ of the past. And we are looking for a way to serve the Air Force, there are two A230 (A330) cargo planes. They are two cargo planes that we don’t have. Look at the difficulty we had to bring oxygen to Manaus,” he said.

Although the FAB has transport aircraft such as the Embraer KC-390 and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, the president said the capacity of an A330 would bring great benefits as fewer aircraft would be used in an emergency.

The BAF operated a rental Boeing C-767 aircraft for two years, however, the agreement was not renewed and it was returned in 2018.

Bolsonaro did not specify when the planes will be purchased or will arrive in the country. He hasn't even confirmed whether they are evaluating the MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) version or a configuration for freight-passenger only.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Photo Credit: Airbus

No comments

All comments related to the contents of our articles are welcome. It is not allowed to post promotional messages, links to external sites, or references to activities not related to this blog.

Powered by Blogger.