Brazilian-US defence and logistics group  Bravo Industries signed a deal to buy ten Lockheed Martin LM-100J Super Hercules commercial freighters at today’s Farnborough Air Show in the UK.

Bravo’s Logística division, which consists of Bravo Cargas and Bravo MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), will operate the LM-100J in Brazil.
Bravo’s president and chief executive, JR Pereira, said the aircraft were “uniquely suited to reach Brazil’s underserved regions where we do business. These are areas that lack ground support and certain critical infrastructure required by other commercial freighters.”

Bravo offers scheduled and route-specific solutions along with special cargo handling for heavy, hazardous, or refrigerated cargo.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president, Orlando Carvalho, described the LM-100J as “built to go where other aircraft can’t, don’t and won’t” – like the C-130J on which it is based.

Bravo is working with Washington DC-based Height Securities on the deal, with California-based Lateral Investment Management providing the funding. The latter’s managing partner, Kenneth Masters, added: “We see tremendous opportunities for civilian application of the Super Hercules platform.”

The LM-100J is the civil-certified version of Lockheed Martin’s proven C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The first LM-100J is currently in production and is due for delivery in 2018.