Defence

One of the most distant nations to lend its support to the static display at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo was Brazil, which sent two of its air force’s transport and special mission aircraft to participate in the event.

On show for the first time at RIAT was an air force Embraer EMB-145 regional airliner equipped with a roof-mounted Saab Microwave Systems Erieye airborne early waning radar, with this variant dubbed the R-99A in Brazilian service. One of five such aircraft in Brazilian service as part of the nation’s Sivam Amazon surveillance system, the aircraft was delivered in 2003, according to Flight’s MiliCAS database. The configuration is also in use with European NATO operator the Greek air force.

Based at Anapolis airbase near the capital Brasilia, the R-99 logged around 15 flight hours during its journey to the UK show via the Cape Verde islands and Lisbon in Portugal, says Capt George Marques. The aircraft will leave Fairford on 16 July and arrive home two days later.

The Brazilian air force also deployed one of its Lockheed Martin C-130E transports to the RIAT event from Rio de Janerio, with the service having also sent a C-130H to participate in last year’s show.