Embraer/FMA CBA-123 Vector

The Embraer/FMA CBA-123 Vector was a twin-turboprop regional airliner jointly developed by Embraer of Brazil and FMA (Fábrica Militar de Aviones) of Argentina. First flown in 1990, the CBA-123 represented an ambitious collaboration between the two South American aerospace manufacturers. The aircraft was designed to seat 19 passengers and compete in the commuter aircraft market. Notable for its modern design featuring a low-wing configuration and twin Garrett TPE331 turboprop engines with five-blade propellers, the CBA-123 incorporated advanced composite materials and aerodynamic features for its time. The program was part of broader Brazil-Argentina cooperation agreements in aerospace and defense. Despite promising technical characteristics and successful test flights, the CBA-123 program faced financial challenges and market uncertainty in the early 1990s. Only one prototype (PT-ZYA) was built and flown before the joint venture was dissolved and the program was officially cancelled in 1993-1994. The cancellation reflected both companies' strategic decisions to focus on other programs - Embraer on the ERJ-145 regional jet family and FMA on military projects. The CBA-123 remains a notable example of international cooperation in regional aircraft development, even though it never entered production.