Over the past decade, the Embraer KC-390 Millennium, featuring fly-by-wire technology, has been deployed in diverse military operations, adapting to demanding conditions and achieving significant presence in global defense markets.
Key milestones in the aircraft's history include its first series-production flight and the receipt of the Type Certificate from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) in October 2018, marking progress towards military certification.
Embraer KC-340 first flight
Between August and September 2019, Embraer signed a contract with Portugal for the acquisition of five KC-390s and delivered the first unit to the Brazilian Air Force, strengthening its operational footprint. In 2020, the aircraft received the Grand Laureate in the Defense category and the Laureate Award for "Best New Product" from Aviation Week.
Subsequent international contracts highlighted the KC-390's growing role, with Hungary joining in 2020, followed by the Netherlands in 2022, and Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Republic of Korea in 2023. In 2024, Sweden, Slovakia, and an undisclosed customer also selected the aircraft.
Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024, the Embraer KC-390 fleet has accumulated over 16,300 flight hours. The current fleet consists of 10 operational aircraft: seven in Brazil, two in Portugal, and one in Hungary, with a mission capability rate of 93% and a mission completion rate exceeding 99%.
The Embraer KC-390 Millennium offers a payload capacity of 26 tons, a top speed of 470 knots, and the ability to perform various missions, including cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, air-to-air refueling (both as a tanker and receiver), firefighting, and humanitarian support. Its operational flexibility extends to temporary and unpaved runways, including packed earth, soil, and gravel.
