In 1990, the Brazilian government launched the SIPAM/SIVAM project (Amazon Protection System/Amazon Surveillance System). SIPAM was made up of a number of radars, satellites and remote-sensing systems which, for the first time, would allow all federal and state administrative agencies operating in the region to have access to a centralized database in Brasilia. SIVAM, to be organized by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), would operate, along with SIPAM, with a number of mobile radars installed in an airplane capable of covering the five million square kilometers (3.106 million miles) of the Amazon, at the time totally devoid of flight protection. In addition to providing security for aircraft and boats, the system could also track illegal flight operations and combat drug trafficking, illegal mines and timber smuggling.

A consortium led by the U.S. company Raytheon won the bidding for the SIPAM/SIVAM project in 1994. The proposal called for the purchase of  Tucano and ERJ 145 aircraft, manufactured by Embraer, but with the airplanes tailored to the needs of the project.

Based on the platform of the ERJ 145 regional jet, the ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) system airplanes were developed—the EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) and the EMB 145 MULTI INTEL, previously called EMB 145 RS/AGS (Remote Sensing/Airborne Ground Surveillance). In 1999 the ISR family rollout and maiden flight of the airplanes took place.

The EMB 145 MULTI INTEL develops ground monitoring and remote sensing operations. It is equipped with an infrared scanner so it can “sweep” the Amazon region, producing images with much greater resolution than those made by satellites. The aircraft can detect suspicious aircraft with its radar, and send information to the Super Tucano, in addition to carrying out cartographic missions and supporting research and biomass analysis.

In July 2002, FAB received its first EMB 145 MULTI INTEL for SIVAM.

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Embraer Defense Systems - EMB 145 Multi Intel