“We will fund the design, construction, and certification of a Portuguese aircraft, a regional plane for both civil and military use,” said the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, during a hearing of the Economics and Territorial Cohesion Committee.
The public funding will amount to “a little over 100 million,” he noted.
The aircraft in question will have 19 seats and “a flight range of 2,000 kilometers,” he added.
Manuel Castro Almeida was referring to the already known project of the LUS-222, a high-wing twin-engine aircraft with a rear cargo door designed by the Centre of Engineering and Product Development (CEiiA), the Portuguese Air Force, and the company Geosat.
The project involves investments of 220 million euros, including the construction of a factory in Ponte de Sor, capable of producing 12 aircraft annually on one shift and 20 aircraft annually on two shifts, according to information released in April when project representatives presented the initiative at the LAAD Defense & Security fair held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The project authors anticipate that the aircraft can transport 19 passengers or up to two tons of cargo, capable of undertaking military missions, search and rescue operations, as well as regional commercial aviation.
The aircraft will have a range of up to 2,100 kilometers and can reach speeds of up to 370 kilometers per hour.
The first flight of the aircraft is scheduled for 2028, as disclosed in April.
