Embraer Defence & Security, which is witnessing a rush of orders for its C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft is now eyeing the potential market demand for the type in the region. The Philippine Air Force already an operator of Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano.
The Brazilian airframer’s foray into large military aircraft is now paying dividends with the C-390 Millennium new generation multi-mission transport aircraft having received orders from air forces in seven countries. Air forces in Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic have ordered the aircraft. South Korea, the most recent customer for the type, gives Embraer Defence & Security a foothold in the Asian market. Embraer’s military transport is available in two configurations, while the product name is C-390 Millennium, it receives the designation KC-390 when customers opt for the aircraft in multi-mission air mobility and air-to-air refueling (AAR) configuration.
The C-390 can carry 26 tons of payload as compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and fly at speeds of 870 kmph. It is capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil, and gravel.
The C-390 Millennium entered into service with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in 2019, which now operates four aircraft that are fully operational. The newest aircraft was delivered in December 2020. The FAB has been using the aircraft to complete international and domestic humanitarian and cargo missions. The Portuguese Armed Forces (FAP) ordered five KC-390s in 2019 and October 2020, with its first aircraft entering into service at Beja Air Base in October 2023. Embraer delivered the FAP’s second KC-390 in June this year.
FAP KC-390s include standard North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) equipment already integrated into the aircraft. Now operational with two air forces, Embraer states that the current fleet of aircraft in operation have accumulated over 13,000 flight hours, with approximately 80% operational availability and mission completion rates above 99%. Since entering operation with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has proven its operational efficiency, and reliability. The current fleet of aircraft in operation has accumulated more than 14,000 flight hours, with mission capable rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.
Asia and the Middle East could soon emerge as major markets for the C-390. In December 2023, South Korea emerged as the C-390 Millennium’s first customer in Asia. South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) selected the C-390 Millennium as the winner of its Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender to deliver a new military transport aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). Under the signed contract for an undisclosed number of aircraft, Embraer will also provide a comprehensive consortium and offset package including a significant amount of C-390 Millennium parts to be locally manufactured by Korean partner companies and the development of a local Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Embraer is also eyeing an Indian Air Force (IAF) requirement for a new Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) in the 18-30 tonne class. The requirement could be for up to 80 aircraft, though Indian procurement procedures are notoriously longwinded and opaque. The jet powered C-390 aircraft features a rugged design that allows it to operate from semi-prepared and damaged runways, as well as harsh environments, varying from the hot and humid Amazon forest to the freezing Antarctic continent, as well as hot and sandy desert conditions. The C-390 can also be quickly reconfigured without specialist tools
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