The Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has signed five far-reaching Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Polish defense group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. (PGZ) and its subsidiaries WZL-1, WZL-2, WSK PZL-Kalisz and WBCKT. The agreements create the framework for long-term industrial cooperation in the aerospace and defense sector and underline Embraer’s ambition to massively expand its presence in Europe – and in Poland in particular.
Both sides intend to define specific areas of cooperation in the coming weeks. The focus will be on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), component manufacturing, supply chain solutions and the design, development, testing and industrialization of aviation-specific products. Cooperation in the area of C4ISR is also being examined.
Intensified cooperation with key companies in the Polish aviation industry
The separate agreements with WZL-1 and WZL-2 are aimed at close technical cooperation.
- WZL-1 is intended to promote the production of metal and composite components, technology and knowledge transfer, certification and quality assurance as well as joint work on new technologies.
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The cooperation with WZL-2 focuses on MRO capacities for the C-390M, other aircraft and painting services.
Additional MoUs with WSK Kalisz and WBCKT expand the industrial spectrum: WSK is to manufacture components, offer mechanical and heat treatment processes as well as training. Cooperation with WBCKT is being explored for the development of ground support systems (GSE) for the C-390M.
“Poland is becoming the central pillar of our European ecosystem”
PGZ Vice President Jan Grabowski spoke of a “milestone” for the Polish defense sector: “With Embraer, we are gaining one of the largest aviation companies in the world as a long-term partner. The agreements strengthen the potential of the Polish defense industry, enable technology transfer and build new key competencies.”
Embraer Chief of Defense Bosco da Costa Junior also emphasized the strategic importance: “Cooperation is part of Embraer’s DNA. These agreements lay the foundation for a partnership that will make Poland the center of our industrial ecosystem in Europe.”
Militär Aktuell Podcast #13: Air Chief Generalmajor Gerfried Promberger im Gespräch
Focus on the C-390M – Presentation in Poland
As part of the signing ceremony, Embraer once again officially presented the C-390M – the multi-purpose transport aircraft that has been in service with the Brazilianand since 2023 with the Portuguese and since 2024 with the Hungarian Air Force (-> Hungary recently took over the second aircraft) has been in service. According to official information from Embraer, the fleet has an operational readiness rate of 93 percent and mission completion rates of over 99 percent.
Other customers also include Lithuania (-> report) and Slovakia (-> report). In addition Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands ordered a total of 13 machines in a joint procurement.
Here for more news about Embraer.
