The radar’s first mission was carried out in Parintins, in the state of Amazonas
Embraer and the Brazilian Army (EB) have successfully completed the first experimental test of the M200 Vigilante radar in a representative environment, including the deployment of the equipment on the Brazilian Air Force’s KC-390 aircraft. The radar was operated at Júlio Belém Airport, in Parintins (AM), throughout June and July. Parintins City Hall and the administrators of Júlio Belém and Viracopos Airports (Campinas-SP) also supported the initiative.
The location was chosen because of the Parintins Folklore Festival, an event that brings a significant increase in air traffic to the region. Thousands of visitors accessed the city this year via Júlio Belém Airport, totaling more than 800 landings and take-offs in one week. The M200 Vigilante radar was transported for the first time on a FAB KC-390, on a three-hour journey between Campinas and Parintins.
The sensor monitored air traffic within a 200 km radius of the airport, uninterruptedly, in parallel with the work of flight controllers from CINDACTA IV, the FAB agency responsible for air coordination in the northern region.
“The Parintins Folklore Festival presented an opportunity to test the performance of the M200 Vigilante in a challenging environment such as the Amazon. Embraer’s joint operation with the Army and Air Force proved the versatility, agility, precision and robustness of the equipment in its first operation. We are very pleased with the results, which constitute an important step in the transition to effective and future operational use for the benefit of the Armed Forces in Brazil and abroad,” says Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“We are proud to participate and contribute to this important event in the Amazon region. Over more than 15 years of development in the area of sensors, the partnership between the Army and Embraer has built the technological autonomy of the now digital radars, known as phased array. Carrying out this experimental exercise was another important step in proving the technical characteristics of the M200 Vigilante, which will expand the capabilities of our troops, maintaining continued operation with the support of the Defense Industrial Base (BID),” says Army General Achilles Furlan Neto, Head of the Brazilian Army’s Science and Technology Department.
The M200 Vigilante radar is a medium-range sensor for air surveillance and early warning applications. Using advanced processing techniques, it is capable of detecting and tracking positions and trajectories, as well as classifying detected targets. It has an integrated power generation system, which guarantees operating autonomy for up to 48 hours, as well as easy transportation by ground and air platforms.