Helibras
| File:Helibras.png | |
| Company type | Joint Stock |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace / Defense |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
Key people | Gilberto Peralta, President |
| Products | Helicopters, aircraft components, mission systems for air and ground operation |
| Revenue | R$703 million |
Number of employees | 500 |
| Parent | Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) |
| Website | helibras |
Helibras, officially known as Helicópteros do Brasil S.A., is a Brazilian helicopter manufacturer operating as a fully owned subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters, a branch of Airbus.
The company has produced in excess of 800 helicopters, with the Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (locally called Esquilo) representing approximately 70% of its output. Around 10% of these helicopters are exported to various Latin American nations, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Helibras dominates Brazil’s turbine helicopter segment, commanding a 54% share in the civilian market and roughly 66% within the military sector.
History
Established on 1 January 1978 in São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo, Helibras moved its operations to Itajubá, Minas Gerais, in 1980. Initially, ownership was shared among MGI Participações (a government entity), Bueninvest, and Eurocopter. In 2006, it transitioned to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). It remains the sole helicopter manufacturer in Latin America.
The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil stands as the most extensively produced model; by 2012, it accounted for 70% of the 600 helicopters built domestically. More than 300 AS350 units are operational throughout Brazil, including deployment aboard the Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo. Since 1984, the Brazilian Navy has utilized AS350s in support of its Antarctic Program. In 2011, Helibras secured a contract to modernize 36 AS350 helicopters for the Brazilian Army.
Additionally, the locally licensed production of the Eurocopter AS565 Panther took place. The Brazilian Army began receiving Panthers in 1988. In 2010, Helibras was awarded a contract to upgrade 34 AS365K Panthers to the AS365 K2 variant. This upgrade introduced Turbomeca Arriel engines delivering 40% more power, glass cockpit technology, advanced avionics suites, four-axis autopilot systems, weather radar capabilities, night vision goggle compatibility, and extended operational lifespan by an additional 25 years. The first Panther K2 upgraded models were delivered in March 2014 and demonstrated an availability rate of 98% following evaluation.
In September 2008, the Brazilian government announced a $1 billion agreement for Helibras to manufacture an initial series of 50 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters destined for the Brazilian Navy, Air Force, and Army Aviation Command. Flight testing commenced by December 2010 with assembly continuing through 2012. By June 2014, the Navy received its first EC725 unit. By July 2015, a total of 16 H225Ms (the military designation for EC725) had been delivered to Brazilian armed forces with further deliveries scheduled through 2019. As of October 2015, the H225M fleet had accumulated over 10,000 flight hours. In December that year, Helibras delivered the first two H225Ms certified to meet full operational capability requirements to Brazil’s military.
In April 2014, Helibras partnered with MBDA to integrate the anti-ship Exocet missile—partially produced in Brazil—onto the EC725 platform.
Civil
Military
See also
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Aircraft manufacturers of Brazil
- Defence companies of Brazil
- Airbus Helicopters
- Airbus subsidiaries and divisions
- Companies based in Minas Gerais
- Helicopter manufacturers of Brazil
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1978
- Multinational companies headquartered in Brazil
- Brazilian brands
- Brazilian companies established in 1978
- Brazilian subsidiaries of foreign companies