The EC725 on Display at Brazilian Defense Show

15 April 2011

This week, Eurocopter and its Brazilian subsidiary, Helibras, are participating in the 2011 LAAD Defense & Security exhibition in Rio de Janeiro. The EC725 helicopter is being spotlighted, underscoring Brazil’s major acquisition of this military aircraft and the key industrial role of Helibras in their production.

As the only Brazilian helicopter manufacturer, Helibras supplies over 50 percent of the country’s turbine-powered helicopters, and has delivered more than 500 aircraft in its 33 years of operation to meet the requirements of governmental, military and civil customers.

At Itajubá, Helibras is preparing for the assembly of EC725s, which the Brazilian government contracted in 2008 to acquire 50 helicopters for transport and civil security missions.

At the exhibition, Helibras also is also exhibiting the AS550 A2 Fennec operated by the Brazilian Army – and which will be modernized by the company in a upgrade program that will ensure the continued operation of these helicopters for at least 25 additional years.

Finally, Helibras is also displaying a single-engine EC130 fitted with an aeromedical kit, along with a twin-engine HM-1 Pantera – the version of Eurocopter’s AS565 in service with the Brazilian Army. Helibras has a contract to upgrade 34 of their HM-1 Panteras, which will extend the current fleet’s operating lifetime by at least 25 years.