Brazil transports the Guarani and M-113 armored vehicles aboard a KC-390

The Brazilian Air Force, continuing the operational evaluation program of the KC-390 aircraft, under the responsibility of Embraer Defense and Security, carried out a test to verify the loading, transport, and disembarkation of the Brazilian Army’s Guarani 6×6 and M-113 armored vehicles.

It was the first real loading of the wheeled and tracked vehicles on the KC-390 aircraft, with a flight planned to verify safety and operational parameters.

For this mission, the Armored Training Center provided personnel and logistical support for the transfer of the armored vehicles to the Santa Maria Air Base, located in the homonymous city, where FAB ground personnel and the Gordo Squadron – 1st/1st GT, the operational unit of the KC-390, performed all boarding, stowage, flight, landing, and post-mission evaluation with the two types of vehicles.

SIMULATION IN 2017

This test was already performed in a simulated form in 2017, two years before the delivery of the first KC-390 to the FAB.

Embraer completed the tests for the cargo certification of these vehicles using a wood and fiber structure that simulated the aircraft’s cargo compartment.

In addition to the M-113 and the 6×6 Guarani, a copy of the Chivunk light reconnaissance vehicle, used by the Paratrooper Infantry Brigade, and a Rosenbauer Panther firefighting vehicle, which equips several airports throughout Brazil, were used.

Most recently, an 8×8 Pandur armored personnel carrier from the Czech Republic was tested and maneuvered in the cargo compartment of the KC-390 during a demonstration tour of the aircraft in Europe this year, last August and September.

With information from InfoDefensa

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