The Brazilian Air Force has a new military plane, the KC-390. Jair Bolsonaro doubles down on his populist rhetoric. The pension reform could move along in Congress today. And Rio set to get BRL 2.5bn in royalties from new oil reserves. (This newsletter is for platinum subscribers only. Become one now!)
Brazil’s brand new military plane
The Brazilian Air Force will receive its first Embraer KC-390 cargo plane aircraft today, to replace the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules used for decades. The KC-390 is faster, flies at a higher altitude, and can carry more cargo than its predecessor. Moreover, it can be refueled during flight and is easier to maintain. The aircraft was developed in partnership with the Air Force, which ordered 28 units—to be delivered by 2024.
Why it matters. Priced at around USD 87m apiece, the KC-390 has been considered a state-of-the-art aircraft, set to “revolutionize military air transportation,” according to Charles Atkeison, of Avgeekery Magazine. It could make Embraer a top-notch competitor in a market dominated by American producers.
Production delays. The KC-390 comes with three years of delay, partially caused by the 2014–2016 recession—which made the Brazilian government hold back on its payments to finance the project—and...