Embraer and the state-owned enterprise ALADA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 7, 2026, to establish a government-to-government (G2G) procurement framework specifically targeting defence markets in Africa and Latin America. The agreement, finalised during the FIDAE aerospace exhibition in Santiago, Chile, positions ALADA as the primary institutional intermediary for sovereign-backed transactions involving Brazilian defence technology.
The partnership follows a recent move by Brazil’s Ministry of Defence authorising ALADA (Empresa de Projetos Aeroespaciais do Brasil S.A.) to conduct these specialised procurements. By acting as a state representative, ALADA provides a structured framework for international buyers who require sovereign guarantees or direct G2G contracts. This model aims to streamline the acquisition process for Embraer’s primary defence platforms, including the KC-390 Millennium transport and the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft.
Fabio Caparica, Vice-President of Contracts at Embraer Defence and Security, noted that the memorandum allows countries requiring G2G frameworks to access new negotiation options for Brazilian products. Sergio Roberto de Almeida, President of ALADA, described the G2G export model as an unprecedented approach for Brazil and will play a decisive role in opening new market opportunities for aerospace projects. The initiative intended to lend institutional credibility to international negotiations while supporting the broader domestic Defence Industrial Base (DIB).
EXPANDING REGIONAL INFLUENCE
The G2G model is particularly relevant for markets in Africa and Latin America, where procurement often relies on bilateral state agreements rather than strictly commercial tenders. Embraer has focused heavily on these regions, recently targeting the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a potential operator for the KC-390. Embraer has actively showcased the C-390’s capabilities to South Africa. At the Africa Aerospace and Defence show in September 2024 at Waterkloof Air Base near Pretoria, the aircraft’s potential was on full display. In 2025, Embraer and the South African state-owned firm DENEL signed an agreement to explore local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities for the aircraft.
The KC-390 Millennium is a twin-engine, multi-mission tactical airlifter designed to operate from short, unpaved runways. It features a probe-and-drogue system for aerial refuelling and can be reconfigured for medical evacuation, search-and-rescue, and troop transport. Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officials evaluated the aircraft during a series of flight demonstrations in early 2024.
Nigeria already maintains a significant relationship with the Brazilian aerospace sector through its fleet of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. These turboprops were acquired under a $329 million U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract in 2018 and fully delivered by September 2021. The A-29 is a light attack and advanced trainer aircraft that has logged over 600,000 flight hours globally. In Nigeria, the platform replaced older Dassault Alpha Jets for counter-insurgency operations.
A notable technical update for the A-29 platform is the integration of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) capabilities. Embraer expects to offer this solution, which utilises advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors for air-to-air drone interception, to customers by the second half of 2026. This capability addresses a growing requirement among African and Latin American operators facing asymmetrical threats from small, low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles.
ALADA, a subsidiary of NAV Brasil, was originally established to support the Brazilian Space Program and manage aerospace infrastructure. Its new role in defence procurement adds a layer of sovereign backing to Embraer’s commercial reach. The Secretary of Defence Products, Heraldo Luiz Rodrigues, emphasised that these operations are vital for expanding access to international markets that prioritise government-level security partnerships over direct corporate purchases.
By providing a sovereign guarantee through ALADA, Brazil can offer a more integrated package that includes financing, long-term maintenance, and bilateral diplomatic support. This shift may accelerate pending negotiations in the Middle East and Africa, where several nations have expressed interest in the KC-390’s NATO-standard capabilities.
Further evaluation of specific G2G contract structures is expected to continue throughout 2026 as ALADA and Embraer move from the memorandum phase to active project management. The first formal contract under this new sovereign-backed model will likely target a replacement program for tactical airlift or border surveillance in a key regional partner nation.