In a new milestone for Embraer and its C-390 Millennium program, the Brazilian company confirmed the delivery of the second and final transport aircraft to the Hungarian Air Force, following its arrival on Friday, November 21, at Kecskemét Air Base, where the official reception ceremony took place.
On November 17, with the Hungarian government’s decision to move forward with the acquisition of two aircraft, Hungary became the third country—after Brazil and Portugal—to select the C-390 Millennium as its future transport aircraft to equip its Air Force. This decision would later be echoed by other European and NATO countries, as well as others around the world.
A little more than five years after those decisions, the country and its air force now have both aircraft intended to carry out missions ranging from the air transport of personnel and cargo to support for humanitarian aid and assistance missions, including medical evacuation. This is no minor detail, as the Hungarian C-390s, based on the requirements originally outlined in the process, are the first to be equipped with an intensive medical care configuration.
As part of the aircraft’s official reception ceremony, Hungary’s Minister of Defence, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, stated: “This is a truly uplifting and joyful moment, an incredibly important event in the development of the Hungarian Air Force. And I can say with certainty that the Hungarian people have become stronger and more prosperous as a result. This type of transport capability was missing from the arsenal of the Hungarian Air Force, but it is now available. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this process.”
For his part, Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, noted: “This is a significant milestone for Embraer as we deliver the second C-390 Millennium to the Hungarian Air Force. This aircraft will further enhance Hungary’s capabilities by providing superior operational performance, greater flexibility, and lower life-cycle costs,” adding: “As partners, we look forward to expanding our cooperation to support the Hungarian Air Force in all its present and future operational needs.”
In line with the statements made during the official speeches, it should also be noted that with the incorporation of the C-390s, the Hungarian Air Force is renewing its transport capabilities by completing the replacement of its old An-26 aircraft—a situation shared by many other European forces.
As an example, following Hungary’s order, other countries have placed orders in recent months and years, including the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic (which, together with Brazil, Portugal, and Argentina, is part of the original program), as well as more recent selections by South Korea and Lithuania. These developments continue to strengthen the reputation and maturity of the Brazilian-made aircraft as the leading platform for the new generation of tactical transport aircraft worldwide, positioning it as the reference for replacing legacy C-130 Hercules fleets.
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