Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) and Brazil’s Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday during the LAAD Defence & Security exposition in Rio de Janeiro, according to industry news reports.
The agreement aims to explore industrial collaboration, including the potential production of Embraer’s E2 commercial jets — specifically the E190-E2 and E195-E2 — in Turkey.
It highlights TUSAŞ’s capabilities in composite and metallic structures, fuelage assembly, flight testing and painting. The MoU also includes provisions for research and development, technology transfer and engineering cooperation.
Strategic partnership with Embraer!
On the first day of the LAAD 2025 Defense & Security Expo in Brazil, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Embraer.
Through this agreement:
Collaboration between the two companies will be strengthened through joint… pic.twitter.com/C9ltTePwJj
— Turkish Aerospace (@TUSAS_EN) April 1, 2025
 and Brazil's Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday during the LAAD Defence & Security exposition in Rio de Janeiro, according to industry news reports.){kind=link}
Mustafa Gürsoy, executive vice president of TUSAŞ, and Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto signed the MoU. Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Turkish Deputy Industry and Technology Minister Muhammet Kasım Gönüllü attended the ceremony.
TUSAŞ CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu called the agreement a milestone for Turkey’s aerospace industry, while Gomes Neto said it aligns with Embraer’s global expansion goals.
Brazil’s defense minister, José Mucio, told Reuters on Wednesday that Embraer is negotiating to sell KC-390 military transport aircraft to Turkey, Poland and Finland.
The discussions occurred during LAAD 2025 in Rio de Janeiro.
The KC-390, which competes with Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules, could replace or supplement aging aircraft in the Turkish Armed Forces with its capabilities for troop transport, cargo airlift, aerial refueling and medical evacuation missions.
While the Turkish Aerospace-Embraer MoU focuses on civil aviation, analysts say it might facilitate KC-390 discussions.
The MoU primarily focuses on civil aviation through potential E2 jet production in Turkey. However, analysts suggest that it could pave the way for broader defense collaborations between TUSAŞ and Embraer. The KC-390 discussions highlight Brazil’s efforts to expand its defense exports globally, with Sweden recently confirming an order for four KC-390 units earlier the same week.
Eight countries already operate the KC-390, including Brazil, Portugal and Hungary.
No official link between the MoU and the KC-390 negotiations has been confirmed.