The first aircraft produced in Portugal, the LUS 222, will be built in Ponte de Sor and is due to fly in 2026 when the first unit is built. the airfield of this city of Alentejo
The Portuguese aircraft will have 19 seats and 2,000 kg of cargo. The aircraft will be able to land on short, unpaved runways, so it can be widely used in Africa and South America.
The aircraft will have versions for civil and military operators.
Miguel Braga spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the signing of an agreement between EEA Aircraft (a consortium created by Cosmos and CEiiA that guarantees the development, industrialization and commercialization of this aircraft from our country) and the municipality of Ponte de Sor.
It is in the city of Alentejo that a plant for the production of LUS 222 will be installed with an investment of 100 million euros. Mayor Hugo Hilario stressed the importance of this investment not only for their innovation, but also for the creation of 300 direct and 800 indirect jobs.
The development of the aircraft project will be carried out in the Alentejo Science and Technology Park in Évora, of which the University of Évora is a part.
“By the end of 2025 or in the first quarter of 2026, we want to produce the first aircraft for certification,” said Miguel Braga.
The Ponte de Sor division will have the capacity to produce 20 to 30 aircraft per year.
The PORTugal Air Summit takes place at the Ponte de Sor airfield until October 15th. The program can be found here.
