Brazil to renovate planes for World Cup security

Rio de Janerio, Jan 22 (IANS) The Brazilian Air Force will renovate five E-99 airborne early warning and control aircraft for the security of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The E-99 model, made by Brazilian aircraft company Embraer, is a jet equipped with radar that is is used to detect and track other aircraft targets. The plane can transmit information about the targets to control centers on the ground.

According to local governmental news agency Agencia Brasil, the jets which will be renovated started operating in 2002, and were purchased to help in the defence of Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest region. The updates will include the control systems, the radars, and military and electronic equipment.

The Air Force also acquired six planning and mission analysis stations to train flight crews. The contract for the renovations was already signed with Embraer, and the updates will cost the Air Force $210.78 million.

Embraer started producing the E-99 in 1999. The model is a version of the company’s ERJ 145 jet modified for military purposes.