The EMBRAER R-99 is a conversion of the ERJ 145 civil regional jet airliner, for military purposes. Both variations were designed by the Forca Aerea Brasileira (FAB) and Raytheon. The R-99 series are equipped with Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engines, though are modified to provide 20% more thrust than the civil version. The first flight was in 1999.
The R-99A is an Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft, equipped with the Erieye airborne radar from Ericsson AB of Sweden. The FAB claims that it has 95% of the capability of the larger AWACS aircraft which are in service in the air forces of larger nations.
The R-99B is an electronic intelligence-gathering aircraft.
In Brazilian service, the R-99 series are flown out of Anapolis AFB . Five R-99As and three R-99Bs are operated by the Air Force on behalf of the civilian SIVAM program. Greece and Mexico are also operators.
