In the midst of the process aimed at equipping the South Korean Air Force with the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, Embraer has taken another step in consolidating its position in the Asian market. During the opening day of the ADEX 2025 exhibition, the Brazilian company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), with the objective of strengthening industrial cooperation and opening new opportunities for joint development in the defense sector.
The agreement was signed by Air Force Brigadier General Kang Joong-hee, Director of DAPA’s Aircraft Division, and by Bosco da Costa Jr., President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. In the words of General Kang, this memorandum “will serve as a significant opportunity for Korea and Brazil to move beyond a simple buyer-seller relationship toward a model of mutual growth cooperation.” The official also emphasized that DAPA will actively support the integration of Korean companies into Embraer’s global supply chain and into the expansion of its defense exports.
For his part, Bosco da Costa Jr. highlighted that the memorandum reflects the growing partnership between both parties and is supported by Embraer’s multi-domain capabilities, which cover the air, land, maritime, and space domains, to explore new avenues of collaboration. Although this agreement does not yet imply the signing of the final contract for the acquisition of the C-390s, it does reinforce South Korea’s intention to move forward in a scheme of technological and logistical cooperation with Brazil, which could include maintenance, training, and comprehensive support.
The link between Embraer and the South Korean industry is not new. Since 2013, the Brazilian company has maintained partnerships with local firms through the E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft program. Last September, Embraer and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) organized a “roadshow” in the cities of Sacheon and Busan, where seminars and technical visits were held to identify new areas of collaboration. This joint work served as the basis for the signing of the MoU finalized at ADEX 2025.
It is worth recalling that in December 2023, South Korea’s Defense Project Promotion Committee selected the C-390 Millennium within the public tender “Large Transport Aircraft II” (LTA-II), with an estimated budget of 544.4 million dollars to be executed by 2026. Although the final number of units has not yet been officially confirmed, DAPA sources indicated that the project contemplates the initial incorporation of at least three aircraft, with the objective of strengthening airlift capacity and support for international missions.
The C-390 Millennium is consolidating itself as one of the most advanced tactical transports in its category. Its selection by South Korea confirms the growing international interest in the model, also adopted by Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. With the progress of the understanding between Embraer and DAPA, the Brazilian company positions itself strategically in the competitive Asian market, paving the way for a future contractual signing and long-term industrial cooperation.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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