Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) and Brazil’s Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday aimed at exploring industrial cooperation, including potential production of Embraer’s E2 series commercial jets in Turkey.
The agreement was signed during the LAAD Defence & Security 2025 exposition in Rio de Janeiro by Mustafa Gürsoy, executive vice president of TUSAŞ, and Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto. The ceremony was attended by Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Turkey’s Deputy Industry and Technology Minister Muhammet Kasım Gönüllü.
The MoU outlines areas for collaboration on the E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets, including joint work on composite and metallic structures, fuselage assembly, flight testing, and painting. It also includes provisions for research and development, engineering cooperation, and technology transfer — potentially positioning Turkey as a regional hub for E2 jet production.
TUSAŞ CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu described the deal as a “milestone for Turkey’s aerospace industry,” while Embraer’s Gomes Neto said the partnership aligns with Embraer’s global growth strategy.
While the agreement centers on civil aviation, analysts say it could lay the groundwork for expanded defense cooperation, including discussions around Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. Brazil’s Defense Minister José Mucio told Reuters that the KC-390 is currently under negotiation with Turkey, Poland, and Finland.
The KC-390, designed as a versatile alternative to the U.S.-built C-130 Hercules, offers capabilities in cargo and troop transport, aerial refueling, and medical evacuation. It is currently in use by eight countries, including Brazil, Portugal, and Hungary. Sweden also confirmed the purchase of four KC-390 aircraft earlier this week.
No official link has been made between the MoU and the ongoing KC-390 negotiations, but the agreement marks an important step in strengthening aerospace ties between Ankara and Brasília, potentially opening new doors in both civilian and military sectors.
