Embraer was founded in 1969 by Ozires Silva and funded by the Brazilian government who helped to make it a national champion for domestic aerospace technology. It initially focused on supplying military aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force, but by the 1980s began producing a series of successful commuter and regional airliners for export. The company was privatized in 1994 and began expanding to the production of larger regional airliners and smaller business jets. In 2000, Embraer became public as a limited company (Sociedade Anônima) with its own shares publicly traded in both the United States (NYSE) and Brazil (B3).
Embraer has divisions for commercial, executive, military, and agricultural aviation; it also maintains an incubator for aerospace technologies and businesses. While the company continues producing aircraft for the defense sector, it is best known for the ERJ and E-Jet families of narrow-body short to medium range airliners, and for its line of business jets, including the market-leading Phenom 300.[6] As of May 2024, Embraer has delivered more than 9,000 aircraft, including 1,800 E-Jet planes.[7]
The Brazilian government contributed to Embraer's early growth by providing production contracts.[14] The company sold solely to the domestic market until 1975.
In addition to its own line of aircraft, beginning in 1974, Embraer was licensed by the United States' Piper Aircraft to develop, produce, and market its light airplanes,[18] as Brazil was one of the world's leading importers of small single- or twin-engine aircraft.[19] Piper first put together knock-down kits in its U.S. factory for Embraer to then assemble and market in Brazil and Latin America.[20] By 1978, most parts and components were being sourced by Embraer locally.[18] The aircraft were sold as the EMB 820 Navajo (Piper Navajo Chieftain), EMB 810 Seneca (Piper Seneca III), EMB 720 Minuano (Cherokee Six), EMB 710 Carioca aircraft (Cherokee 235 Pathfinder) and the EMB 711 Corisco (Cherokee Arrow II). Between 1974 and 2000, nearly 2,500 license-built Pipers were produced by Embraer.[18]
By 1980, Aerotec's main business was producing components for Embraer. However, around this time, the Brazilian Air Force became interested in an upgraded version of the Uirapuru. A prototype, designated Uirapuru II, was built; but, by the time it flew, the Air Force no longer required it. A small number were built for export. In 1987, the firm was sold to Embraer.
Privatization
Born from a Brazilian government plan and having been state-run,[8] Embraer eventually started a privatisation process in 1992 alongside other state-run companies, such as Telebrás and Vale. Privatisation was a key policy of the economically liberal government of Fernando Collor, elected in the 1989 presidential election.[19]
Embraer was sold to private investors on December 7, 1994,[10][20] which helped it avoid a looming bankruptcy.[8] The Brazilian government retained interest through possession of golden shares, which allow it veto power.[17] Embraer continued to win government contracts throughout the 2000s and 2010s.[citation needed]
Product line expansion: military, regional and executive
In the mid-1990s, the company pursued a product line focused on small commercial airplanes over the military aircraft that had previously made up the majority of its manufacturing.[8] It soon expanded to the production of larger regional airliners in the 70–110 seat range, and smaller business jets.[17]
By May 2019, Embraer considered developing a new family of turboprop regional airliners in the 50–70 seat range, complementing the E-Jet E2, so as to free engineering resources.[22][23] It would compete against older ATR and Dash 8 designs for 1.5 to 2 h flights over Template:Cvt.[24] In August 2021, Embraer released a new configuration with quieter aft-mounted engines for a 70-90 seat aircraft, with the E-Jet cross-section, aiming for a 2022 launch and a 2027/2028 service entry.[25]
In March 2026, Embraer launched the first JAS F-39 Gripen for the Brazilian Air Force, result of technology transfer agreements signed between the Brazilian and Swedish governments in 2014, for the co-production and development of the fighter.[26][27]
Executive jets
At the 2000 Farnborough Airshow, Embraer introduced the Legacy 600, a business jet variant of the Embraer Regional Jet, which entered service in 2002.[28]Embraer Executive Jets was created as a dedicated subsidiary in 2005. That same year, the Phenom 100 was envisioned as an air taxi similar to the Eclipse 500, competing with Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft. It was introduced in 2008 and is the basis of the larger Phenom 300. The midsize Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 were jointly developed as clean sheet designs, while the Lineage 1000 is a VIP version of the E190. In 2016, Embraer delivered its 1,000th executive jet and had a market share of 17% by volume, though it lacked an ultra-long-range large cabin jet.[29] In October 2018 Embraer announced two new business jets—the Praetor 500 in the midsize cabin category—and the Praetor 600 in the super midsize category.[30]
Military transport
On April 19, 2007, Embraer announced it was considering the production of a twin-jet military transport. Work began in May 2009 with funding from the Brazilian Air Force. Correios, the Brazilian postal service, has shown interest in buying this aircraft. Using much of the technology developed for the Embraer 190, the C-390 would carry up to 23 tons of cargo and aims to replace Cold War-era cargo aircraft.
As a result, Embraer developed the C-390 Millennium, a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft with multi-role capability adapted to various missions.[31][32][33] Brazil has been operating 6 units since 2019.[34] Initially, thirty aircraft (including two prototypes) were to be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force. In February 2022, a new agreement was reached to supply 22 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled until 2034.
The KC-390, also known by its export name C-390 Millennium, has been an export success with several countries purchasing the aircraft or entering negotiations. Known orders and selections include:
United Arab Emirates: 10 units, with an option to expand to 20.[33]
Embraer is also in negotiations with Colombia, China, and Argentina, as well as India, which includes an option to locally produce the aircraft under license.[33]
Government subsidy controversy
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Brazil and Canada engaged in an international, adjudicated trade dispute over government subsidies to domestic plane-makers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The World Trade Organization determined that both countries had provided illegal subsidies to what were supposed to be privately owned industries. Brazil ran an illegal subsidy program, Proex, benefiting its national aviation industry from at least 1999–2000, and Canada illegally subsidized its indigenous regional airliner industry including in export contracts, comprising Bombardier Aerospace.
Failed Boeing-Embraer joint venture
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On July 5, 2018, a joint venture with Boeing was announced that would have resulted in Boeing owning 80% of Embraer's commercial aviation division.[43] This was seen as a reaction to Airbus' acquisition of a majority in the competing Bombardier CSeries the previous year.[44] Under the 2018 plan, Embraer would retain its executive business jet and its defence business.[45] The resulting division would be known as Boeing Brasil – Commercial, though it was unclear whether the aircraft would be rebranded as Boeing models.[46]
On November 18, 2019, Boeing and Embraer announced another joint venture, at 49% and 51% respectively, to promote and develop new markets for the C-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft; the resulting entity would be called Boeing Embraer – Defense and would begin operating after regulatory approvals and closing conditions.[47]
In April 2020, Boeing canceled its acquisition of Embraer's commercial operations after being heavily affected financially by the air crisis initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic and by the 737 MAX groundings.[48][49][50]
In November 2020, Embraer announced that its loss for the third quarter of the year is $121 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions.[51]
Embraer is organized into four segments: Commercial Aviation, which manages the development, production, sale, and lease of commercial jets, as well as the provision of aviation support services; Defense & Security, which consists of research, development, production, modification, and support for military defense aircraft, and related products and services; Executive Aviation, which concerns the development, production, and sale of executive jets, and support services; and Other, which entails the production of structural parts, mechanical and hydraulic systems, agricultural crop-spraying aircraft, and customer training.[53]
Corporate affairs
The key trends of Embraer are (as at the financial year ending December 31):[54]
OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal (Alverca do Ribatejo, Portugal) – aircraft component maintenance, repair and manufacturing, plus aircraft maintenance services.
Embraer Aero Seating Technologies – Inaugurated in September 2016 in the city of Titusville, Florida, Embraer Aero Seating Technologies produces aircraft seats.[63]
Mesa Unit (Located in Mesa, Arizona, U.S.) – Implemented in 2008, performs maintenance, repair and overhaul services on the Phenom and Legacy executive aircraft line.[64]
Windsor Locks Unit (Located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, U.S.) – Implemented in 2008, as well as the Mesa Unit, also performs maintenance, repair and revision services in Embraer's executive line.
ELEB – Subsidiary company specializing in the design and manufacture of landing gear systems and aircraft hydraulic and mechanical components.
Melbourne Unit (Located in Melbourne, Florida, U.S.) – Implemented in 2011, it is the first unit in the United States to carry out the final assembly of aircraft. It produces the line of executives Phenom 100 and Phenom 300. In November 2012 work began on an Engineering and Technology Center at the Melbourne facility.
ECC Leasing – Embraer's in-house leasing division, based in Dublin, Ireland, managing and re-marketing the Embraer aircraft portfolio owned directly by the manufacturer.[65]
Eve - Subsidiary company that develops electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and urban air mobility infrastructure. It merged with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Zanite Acquisition Corp, in May 2022. The merging gave Eve an easier access to NYSE listing.[66] Embraer have announced plans to build a new factory for the manufacturing of Eve's electricair taxi.[67]
Joint ventures
Harbin Embraer – Agreement between Embraer and Harbin Aircraft Corporation of China to build the ERJ family aircraft for the Chinese market. The program officially concluded in 2016 after delivering nearly 40 commercial and executive aircraft.[68]
Boeing – Embraer's commercial airliner portfolio, as well as the KC-390, would be part of two separate joint ventures with Boeing. In the case of the civil aircraft line, Boeing would own a 80% stake in Embraer’s commercial aviation division.[69] Boeing walked away from the deal in April 2020, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and claiming Embraer hadn't met certain closing conditions. In September 2024, the dispute finally ended after a legal arbitration when Boeing agreed to pay Embraer $150 million to settle all claims regarding the failed joint venture.[70]
Adani Defence & Aerospace – Embraer and Adani Group of India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in December 2025 on setting up a final assembly line in India for commercial aircraft having a seating capacity of 70–146 passengers.[71][72][73] Adani Defence & Aerospace, the flagship company of the Adani Enterprises, signed an agreement with Embraer on 27 January at the Wings India to develop an integrated regional transport aircraft ecosystem in India. Firstly, an assembly line will be established followed by a phased increase in indigenisation to support India's Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) program under the UDAN programme.[74][75][76] On 21 February 2026 the firms signed an enhanced MoU to establish a production ecosystem for E-175 in India. Under the agreement, a final assembly line (FAL) for the aircraft will be set up in India.[77][78]
Mahindra Group – On 17 October 2025, Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement to advance the C-390 Millennium aircraft for the Indian Air Force Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.[79]
Hindalco Industries – On 20 February 2026, Embraer signed an MoU with Hindalco Industries, an Indian aluminium manufacturing company, to explore and assess potential sources for aerospace-grade aluminium manufacturing in India.[80][81]
Aircraft models
Commercial
By December 2018, Embraer claimed to lead the sub 150 seat jetliner market with 100 operators of the ERJ and E-Jet families.[82]
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