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A Program That Promised to Increase Brazil’s Space Autonomy, with an Expected Investment of R$ 180 Million, Was Interrupted After Financial Inconsistencies That Led to the Cancellation of the Project and the Opening of Investigations by Control Agencies
The project of the Brazilian rocket Montenegro MKI, designed to position Brazil among the select group of countries capable of launching satellites autonomously, was officially canceled after serious accounting failures involving R$ 24.5 million were identified. The decision was made by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), through the Financing Agency for Studies and Projects (Finep), responsible for funding the initiative.
The information was initially disclosed by specialized science and technology media, based on administrative documents from Finep, which pointed out relevant inconsistencies in the use of public resources allocated to the consortium responsible for the rocket’s development. In light of the situation, the agency determined not only the termination of the project but also the full return of the questioned amounts.
The Montenegro MKI was part of a broader strategy to strengthen the Brazilian space program, reducing reliance on foreign launchers and expanding the national capacity for access to space. However, despite the strategic discourse and the high volume of resources involved, the project was interrupted before even reaching the advanced testing phase.
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Project Structure Proposed an Investment of R$ 180 Million and Partnerships with Startups
From the outset, the Montenegro MKI was conceived as an ambitious project. The plan called for a total investment of approximately R$ 180 million, with public resources directed towards the development of a satellite-launching rocket of small and medium size, capable of meeting both civil and institutional demands.
The consortium was led by the Brazilian company Akaer, known for its work in the aerospace and defense sectors. In addition to it, the project included startups Acrux Aerospace, Breng Engenharia, and Essado de Morais, which acted as co-executors in specific areas of technological development.
On paper, the cooperation model promised to accelerate innovation and distribute technical responsibilities. In practice, however, operational issues arose that compromised the progress of the project. According to reports from partner companies, there were recurring communication failures and significant delays in financial transfers, directly impacting the payment of salaries, suppliers, and the continuity of activities.
As a consequence, the stages planned in the original timeline were not fulfilled, generating a cascading effect that delayed technical deliveries and heightened the funder’s distrust regarding the execution of the contract.
Account Freezes, Investigations, and Dispute Over Financial Responsibility
In March 2025, after formal complaints filed by the involved startups, Finep decided to freeze Akaer’s accounts. The measure was taken to preserve public resources while the irregularities were analyzed in depth.
Additionally, the case was forwarded to external control agencies, such as the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU), which began monitoring the administrative process and assessing potential civil and administrative liabilities.
The co-executor companies claim they did not have access to the central management of the resources and that they fulfilled their contractual obligations, including the delivery of technical reports, deadlines, and individual accountability. According to this version, the lack of transfers by the consortium leader would have hindered the continuity of the work, even with the technical goals being met as much as possible.
In this context, the startups argue that the responsibility for returning the amounts—which, according to documents, may reach R$ 41.3 million considering other transfers—should fall solely on Akaer. While Essado de Morais awaits the conclusion of the administrative process, Breng Engenharia has not yet officially commented on the outcome of the case.
Source: Aeroin
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