Embraer is celebrating a decade since the first flight of the KC-390 Millennium, its multi-mission tactical transport aircraft. The aircraft took off for its maiden flight on 3 February 2015 from Gavião Peixoto, completing a 1-hour and 25-minute test flight to assess its flight characteristics and performance.
Since then, the KC-390 Millennium has established itself in the global defence market, conducting a variety of missions under demanding conditions.
“In just one decade, the KC-390 has proven to be an unbeatable combination of versatility, robustness and flexibility, steadily gaining its place in the market and becoming the ideal choice for countries looking for a multi-mission tactical military transport,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “This aircraft combines the best of aerospace technology with the spirit of Embraer, dedicated to excellence and performance, enabling our customers to execute their missions anytime, anywhere.”
The aircraft achieved significant milestones in 2018, including the first flight of the first series-produced aircraft and the Type Certificate from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). The following year, Portugal signed a contract for five aircraft, and the Brazilian Air Force received its first unit.
The KC-390 Millennium gained further global recognition in 2020, when Aviation Week awarded it the Grand Laureate in the Defence category and the Laureate Award for Best New Product. The same year, Hungary selected the aircraft to enhance its defence capabilities.
The aircraft has since expanded its footprint in Europe, with Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, Slovakia, and an undisclosed customer choosing the KC-390.
Currently, 10 KC-390 aircraft are in operation: seven with the Brazilian Air Force, two with the Portuguese Air Force, and one with the Hungarian Air Force. The fleet has accumulated 16,300 flight hours, with a mission capability rate of 93 per cent and a mission completion rate above 99 per cent.
Designed for military and humanitarian operations, the KC-390 has a 26-tonne payload capacity, making it more capable than other medium-sized military transport aircraft. It can operate on unprepared runways, perform air-to-air refuelling, and support medical evacuation, search and rescue, cargo transport, and firefighting missions.
