The Embraer C-390 Millennium, and the KC-390 refueling version, is the new generation multi-mission transport aircraft. It delivers unrivalled mobility, rapid reconfiguration, high availability, and improved flight safety, all in a single, unique platform.
Since its first delivery to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in 2019, the Embraer KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft has proven its capability, reliability and outstanding performance on domestic and overseas missions, including joint operational exercises with the US Air Force at the start of this year. The entrance of the C-390 Millennium into the market comes at a crucial moment where air forces and governments seek to update their airlift fleet and to incorporate aircraft with modern technology. FAB’s current fleet of the Embraer KC-390s stands at four and these aircraft have exceeded 3,650 flight hours in operation, including its extensive use in operations to transport equipment and medical supplies across the country urgently needed to address the COVID-19 situation in Brazil.
The versatility of the C-390 Millennium makes it highly capable to operate in Asia-Pacific region, undertaking a range of missions across different terrains with a high reliability rate. The C-390 Millennium is the most modern aircraft in its class, encompassing full “fly-by-wire” technology.
As proven by the Brazilian Air Force, the C-390 is also able to be deployed rapidly to respond to emergency situations and humanitarian relief missions, triggered by floods, forest fires, earthquakes or COVID-like situations. The C-390 has already demonstrated its capability of successful take-offs and landings on unpaved runway, which is critical for air forces requirements, given the diverse terrains they operate from. In addition, the C-390 Millennium can operate from an altitude of 14,000 ft which fits the operational requirements for high altitudes.
The KC-390 Millennium in-flight refueling capacity between two aircraft of the same model using inflight refueling underwing “pods” is unique in this category. This allows aircraft’s operators to expand their logistical transport capacity, for instance, during search and rescue operations, which increases the autonomy and range of their missions. The excellent flight qualities of the airplane and the low workload for the crew were demonstrated as a result of the “fly-by-wire” system control laws, which were developed by Embraer specifically for the aircraft.
The aircraft is fully NATO compatible, not only in terms of its hardware but also in its avionics/communications configuration. Besides the FAB, the Portuguese Armed Forces (FAP) ordered five KC-390s in 2019 and the Hungarian Government signed a contract for the acquisition of two C-390 Millennium, in its multi-mission air logistics and air-to-air refueling (AAR) configuration, designated KC-390. The KC-390 for the Hungarian Defence Forces will be the first in the world with the Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, an essential feature to perform humanitarian missions.
