As part of the Brazilian Air Force’s transport aviation modernization program, Embraer will complete delivery of the 19 KC-390 Millennium aircraft ordered by 2034. The program, launched with great ambitions in 2014, has undergone significant adjustments in both timelines and the number of units: from the 28 aircraft originally planned within a nine-year schedule, it was reduced to a total of 19, with incorporation extended over a sixteen-year period.
Announced during the presentation of PEC 55/2023 at a public hearing of the Foreign Relations and National Defense Committee (CRE), the reduction of the original program was confirmed. This restructuring reflects both the need to adapt to defense budget constraints and the consolidation of the aircraft’s production for export, which has already attracted multiple international customers.
The most recent milestone in this process was the delivery, in September 2024, of the seventh KC-390 Millennium to the FAB, assigned to the 1st Transport Group based at Galeão Air Base. With more than 14,000 flight hours accumulated and an availability rate exceeding 99%, the Brazilian fleet has already proven its reliability in operations ranging from humanitarian aid to aerial refueling, consolidating its role as the new backbone of Brazil’s military airlift.
The maturity of the KC-390 Millennium program allowed for the retirement in 2024 of the historic C-130 Hercules fleet of the Brazilian Air Force. Popularly known as “Gordos,” these aircraft entered service in 1964 and served for more than five decades, guaranteeing strategic transport, paratrooper drops, and aerial refueling. With their definitive withdrawal, the KC-390 is now firmly established as the FAB’s new logistical pillar, ensuring operational continuity and delivering a qualitative leap in modernization and airlift capabilities.
Designed by Embraer, the KC-390 Millennium stands out for its multimission capacity. With a maximum payload of 26 tons and a top speed of 470 knots, it can perform troop and heavy cargo transport, aerial refueling using Cobham pods, aeromedical evacuation, firefighting with the MAFFS II system, and tactical deployments on short or unprepared runways. These features position it as a versatile and competitive platform compared to the traditional C-130J Super Hercules, offering a modern alternative with a lower cost per ton transported.
In parallel with the Brazilian contract, Embraer has successfully expanded the KC-390’s international footprint. Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and most recently Lithuania have all confirmed orders, consolidating a European operator base largely composed of NATO members. Portugal, the program’s first international partner, has already incorporated two aircraft and confirmed the acquisition of a sixth. Hungary has received its first unit, while the Netherlands purchased five, and Austria and Sweden formalized orders for four each. In Central Europe, the Czech Republic and Slovakia signed contracts for two and three aircraft, respectively, all intended to replace C-130 Hercules and An-26 fleets.
Europe’s growing interest stems from the need to replace aging platforms, particularly the C-130B/H fleets of countries such as Greece, Poland, and Romania, which are emerging as potential future customers. In this context, Lithuania’s announcement of its selection of the KC-390 as its first tactical transport aircraft confirmed the aircraft’s appeal as a regional solution, supported by NATO interoperability and opportunities for industrial cooperation with local companies. The Lithuanian decision also demonstrated the Millennium’s ability to prevail in competitive evaluations against the C-130J.
The program’s commercial success has also extended beyond Europe. In Asia, South Korea selected the KC-390 to modernize its transport fleet with a proven platform already in service. At the same time, Embraer is pursuing efforts to include the model in the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program, which would represent access to a strategic market in the region. These advances consolidate the KC-390 as the first Latin American military transport aircraft to compete directly on the global stage against the traditional manufacturers’ offerings.
*Images for illustrative purposes
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