The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) selected a Cessna 408 SkyCourier to replace its ageing Embraer C-95 Bandeirante aircraft. The Cessna 408 has been included in the list of joint procurement projects with the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft and Saab Gripen fighter jets by the new Brazilian Ministry of Defence.
The procurement of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft is one of FAB"s priorities, Brazilian Defence Minister José Múcio Monteiro Filho said on Friday.SkyCourier is a high-wing fixed-gear aircraft. The first units of this aircraft were delivered by Textron Aviation last year to FedEx.
The C-95 Bandeirante has been in service with the FAB since the early 1970s. Initially, the Air Force planned to develop a new utility aircraft in partnership with Embraer that would use hybrid propulsion, called the STOUT ( Short Take-Off Utility Transport ) project. However, the project was cancelled.
