Embraer Defense and Security has chosen Sagem’s actuator system for the horizontal stabilizer trim system (HSTS) on its KC-390 military transport and tanker aircraft. The first flight of the KC-390 is scheduled for 2014.
The horizontal stabilizer trim system enables the pilot to control the horizontal stabilizer trim as efficiently as possible to keep the aircraft’s attitude stable, while also minimizing the aerodynamic control forces to fly the plane. The HSTS makes a critical contribution to flight safety, and the innovative solution developed by Sagem, with electrically-driven actuators, offers more efficient electronic control of the system.
The development work on this new system will be carried out at Sagem’s research and development center in Massy, near Paris.
“Embraer’s choice confirms the technology decisions we have made concerning next-generation electrical actuators. Our system selected for this aircraft fully reflects the emerging concept of ‘more electric’ aircraft. Another feature is its dual technology compatibility, since it will be equally at home on tomorrow’s military or civil aircraft,” said Sagem Chairman and CEO Philippe Petitcolin.
Earlier this month, Esterline Control Systems was chosen to supply rudder pedal stations, flap selectors, speed brake LRUs, landing gear levers, wheel tiller, and autobrake switch control panels for KC-390. Additionally, Thales and L-3 joint venture company, ACSS, was selected to provide its T3CAS traffic management computer as the standard surveillance avionics suite for the KC-390. More