Plans to build a manufacturing line for Poland's KC-390 military transport aircraft have been revealed by Brazilian aeronautical company Embraer. The choice fits the growing traction of the aircraft in the European market, where Embraer sees a major clientele in the European Union.
Joining Portugal and Hungary, which currently run the KC-390, other European countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Slovakia have lately initiated actions to acquire the aircraft.
Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said during a recent trip to Poland that the firm is aggressively looking for partners for a possible final assembly line and component manufacturing. Emphasising its approach to increasing the KC-390's worldwide footprint through international manufacturing alliances, Embraer had mentioned the prospect of building production lines in the United States and India.
Embraer has named Poland a significant military equipment production partner. It predicts that the assembly line and related after-sales ecosystem may be worth around $1 billion and generate almost 600 local jobs.
Beyond the KC-390, Embraer is investigating other industrial prospects in Poland, including sub-assembly manufacture for E2 commercial planes, turning E190 aircraft into freighters, and building a landing gear maintenance plant. The corporation claims that within a decade, these projects might create over $2 billion in commercial aviation investments, which would boost more than 4,400 new jobs.
Embraer contracted the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation (Łukasiewicz – ILOT) to work on new aircraft technology and materials as part of its growth in Poland. Łukasowicz registered the agreement—Acting Director Sylwester Wyka from ILOT and Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto.
Gomes Neto said, "Embraer has been part of Poland's aerospace ecosystem for over 25 years. We are dedicated to enhancing industrial collaboration with Polish partners in production, final assembly, maintenance, and repair as the firm continues its worldwide expansion. This expansion will also help Poland's aviation industry reach new heights by supporting the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for such development.
Under Embraer's E2 program, Poland's aerospace sector is already involved with seat production in Świebodzin, auxiliary power unit manufacturing in Rzeszów, and core engine component manufacturing in Kalisz. Embraer employs about 1,350 people in Poland right now, and within ten years, its investment strategy might raise that number to 4,400. Should the larger project be realised, Poland might gain up to $3 billion in economic value and provide as many as 5,000 employees.
