Aircraft
Flat LAAD Show Reflects Brazil's Economic and Political Woes
The Latin American Aerospace and Defense (LAAD) event was affected by the region’s economic problems.
A Gripen mockup attracted plenty of attention at the LAAD show in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo: Reuben F. Johnson)
A Gripen mockup attracted plenty of attention at the LAAD show in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo: Reuben F. Johnson)

Not surprisingly after Brazil’s recent economic and political woes, only one piece of significant news emerged from the Latin American Aerospace and Defense (LAAD) show in Rio de Janeiro last week. The Brazilian National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES) will offer defense export credits for terms of up to 25 years, which should help Embraer’s sales effort for the KC-390 airlifter and other products. Embraer reconfirmed that deliveries of the KC-390 to the Brazilian air force will not start until 2018 with two aircraft, followed by the next three in 2019.