Brazil is one of the largest economies in the world. But not everything is about beaches, iron, sugar, or oil when talking about this South American giant. The Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica (Embraer) is one of its major exporters and is the third-largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, trailing only behind Boeing and Airbus.
Founded in 1969, this company has delivered over 8,000 aircraft throughout its history. Compared to Boeing’s 18,000 and Airbus’s 13,000, it may seem modest. However, it has produced more aircraft than other giants like Bombardier or Lockheed Martin, and to this day, it puts more aircraft in the air annually than these prestigious companies.
The company operates in various production segments. On one hand, it has a strong corporate or private jet segment, with iconic planes like the Embraer Legacy 600. On the other hand, military production is also a cornerstone of the Brazilian giant’s offerings. Finally, the production of narrow-body aircraft, through which it reaches the world’s major airlines.
Embraer’s Corporate Jets
The Embraer Legacy is by far the most legendary among the family of planes. With nearly 300 units sold worldwide, it is one of the most famous private jets in operation. In its various variants, including the 450, 500, 600, and 650E, it has hundreds of users worldwide. For example, the presidential planes of Ecuador, Honduras, and Panama use some of its variants.
A Legacy 600 was involved in a high-profile event in 2023: the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian paramilitary company known as the Wagner Group. It was the second incident of this type in its 24 years of existence, and foul play is suspected.
Meanwhile, the following families of Embraer’s private jets have also been very successful. This has allowed it to compete as one of the largest aircraft manufacturers [largest aircraft manufacturer] with industry giants such as Cessna or Bombardier. The Phenom 300 is a significant mid-range aircraft, but above all, the Embraer Praetor 500/600, with a range that allows transatlantic flights, is heavyweight in the sector.
Finally, the Embraer Lineage 1000E is one of the largest. Only surpassed by the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 in their corporate versions, it can carry about 20 passengers and travel over 8,000 kilometers, almost the distance between London and Texas.
Embraer and the Armed Forces
Among the company’s most important customers is the Brazilian Air Force. One of the most famous is the EMB-312 Tucano (and its modernization, the Super Tucano). These are aircraft that have been sold in the hundreds throughout Latin America, as well as to distant and diverse countries such as Iran, Egypt, Mozambique, France, and the United Kingdom.
But Embraer has also joined the select club of fighter aircraft manufacturers. However, these are not entirely proprietary developments. One is a licensed construction, the Saab 39 Gripen and the other is the AMX “Ghibli.” In the latter case, it is a joint project with Italian companies that supply the air forces of both countries.
Finally, Embraer has developed the C-390 Millennium, a cargo aircraft that, due to its dimensions and capabilities, aims to replace a classic: the C-130 Hercules. A true legend in military cargo aviation.
Narrow-Body Aircraft: Embraer in the Big Leagues
However, the general public probably knows this company more for the thousands of planes used by airlines worldwide in their commercial operations. The company entered this market with the EMB 120 Brasilia, a turboprop that is still one of the few that can be produced on demand.
But the big leap came with the regional jets of the ERJ family, of which the private jet Legacy is also a part. Its models ERJ 135, 140, and 145, created in the mid-90s, revolutionized the market, propelling the company into the club of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In total, about 1,200 units of these aircraft have been created.
The next to be produced, the E-Jets, have been the consolidation of Embraer. Its versions E-170, E-175, E-190, and E-195 have over 1,600 units in service worldwide. They can accommodate between 70 and 122 passengers, with a range that can exceed 4,000 kilometers in some variants, making them ideal for regional operations. Among its most famous users are Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, and Air Canada, although the ones operating the most units are the American SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airlines, and Envoy Air (a subsidiary of American Airlines).
Currently, Embraer is developing a new family, the E-Jets E2. In service since 2018, they have reduced fuel consumption and maintenance costs by up to 24%, making them much more sustainable. Canadian Porter Airlines, KLM Cityhopper, and Azul Brazilian Airlines are its main users so far.
