The Brazilian firm Desenvolvimento Aeronáutico (DESAER) is teaming up with the Portuguese centre of engineering and product development (CEiiA) to proceed with the development of the ATL-100 lightweight twin-turboprop multirole aircraft. The venture agreement, revealed in mid-May, will enable DESAER and CEiiA to jointly develop, manufacture, and market the ATL-100. The aircraft will have civilian and military variants. The military version will perform roles such as troop transport, logistics support, search and rescue, paratrooper airdropping maritime patrol, liaison, border surveillance, medical evacuation, and special operations.
The ATL-100 offers 7,500 kg maximum take-off weight, 380 km/h cruising speed, 16 m length, 6 m height, 20 m wingspan, 2,500 kg maximum payload, 430 km/h cruising speed, 1,500 m maximum range, and a 25,000 ft maximum operating altitude. With configurations for the transport of passengers (up to 19 people) and for cargo (2.5 tonnes), it aims to “address the needs of regional transport in already densely populated areas and in the most remote regions, requiring little infrastructure support on the ground. and the possibility of landing on short, unpaved runways. The ATL is a logistic aircraft that needs to be available and ready for the operator to fulfill its varied range of missions.
The collaboration, which includes the development, production and marketing of the platform, will be carried out with the Portuguese engineering and product development centre, CEiiA. The industrialization and commercialization phases will follow, and “in all phases, the project will be carried out by Portuguese and Brazilian professionals in infrastructures located in Portugal and Brazil. CEiiA and Desaer consider that this partnership, which adds complementary skills to the aerospace sector in Portugal and Brazil, in addition to being an important project for technological innovation and the creation of income and jobs in both countries.
