“We have already received two aircraft to begin mission system integration work, demonstrating both program momentum and the maturity of the AERIS solution,” L3Harris's Jason Whitford told Breaking Defense.
The aircraft's wingspan will expand from 6 meters to 7.3 meters, or 20 to 24 feet.
"The parties will now move into the next stage of discussions, intended to achieve a procurement contract signing soon,” said Italian defense firm Leonardo.
An Airbus official added that other countries, including Canada, have expressed interest in the capability.
“If you want to power drones, lasers, comms and radars on the vehicle you will need all this power,” a senior company official told Breaking Defense.
Jakarta signed on to buy up to 24 of the fighters in 2023, but never finalized a deal.
“This is a clear demonstration that Embraer Defense and Security is ready for the future and is ready to support the most demanding air forces here in the Asia-Pacific region,” Embraer Defense and Security President and CEO Bosco da Costa Jr. said at the Singapore Airshow.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been the trailblazer in the UAS revolution for over three decades.
“After thorough evaluations, we have determined that the C-130 remains the best platform to meet our operational needs for the next 15 to 20 years," Singapore Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Kelvin Fan said.