Embraer C-390 Millennium

The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. It is the heaviest aircraft the company has constructed to date.
Work on the project began at Embraer during the mid-2000s, with early efforts centred around a conceptual derivative of the E190 jetliner of a similar size to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The company was keen to use turbofan jet engines, instead of turboprops. Support for the venture was forthcoming from both the Brazilian government and the Brazilian Air Force. In May 2008, the government invested R$800 million (US$440M) in the project's development. In April 2009, Embraer was issued a $1.5 billion contract for two prototypes. The aircraft was initially designated C-390 before changing to KC-390 in early 2011. At the 2011 Paris Air Show, Embraer announced plans to launch a stretched version of the aircraft as a civilian freighter. Partnerships were promptly formed with various other aerospace companies on the programme, including FAdeA, ENAER, OGMA, and Boeing. A joint venture with Boeing was announced in November 2019, but quickly fell apart within six months. Major subcontractors in the aircraft's manufacturing include Aero Vodochody, BAE Systems, and Rockwell Collins.
On 3 February 2015, the first of two prototypes performed its maiden flight. On 4 September 2019, the first production aircraft was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force. In November 2019, during the Dubai Airshow, Embraer announced the aircraft's new name for the global market, C-390 Millennium. Several export customers for the C-390 have been secured, including the Portuguese Air Force, Hungarian Air Force, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The C-390 can be configured to perform various conventional operations such as troop, VIP and cargo transportation, and more specialised logistical operations such as aerial refuelling as a tanker. It can carry payloads of up to 26 t (57,000 lb), such as two fully-tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, one Boxer armoured vehicle, a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, 74 litters with life-support equipment, up to 80 soldiers or 66 paratroopers with full gear, and loads of up to 42,000 lb (19 t) can be air dropped. As of 2024, each aircraft costs around €80 million.
In the early 2000s, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer became interested in developing its own medium-sized transport aircraft. Its initial design study was based around a high-wing derivative of its existing E190 jetliner. Between 2005 and 2007, it investigated the pairing of the wing and GE CF34 engine of the mature Embraer 190 (E190) with a cabin that was modified to function as a cargo hold, complete with a rear ramp, closed-loop fly-by-wire system, and synthetic vision.
By 2006, Embraer was studying a military tactical transport design of a similar size to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, to be powered by 17,000–22,000 lbf (75.6–98 kN) jet engines, such as the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 and Rolls-Royce BR715. In April 2007, Embraer publicly stated that it was studying a medium-size airlifter. Referred to by the company designation C-390, this transport aircraft was said to incorporate many of the technological solutions present on the Embraer E-Jet series and feature a rear ramp for the loading and unloading of a wide range of cargo.
In March 2008, the Brazilian government planned to invest about R$60 million (equivalent to US$33 million) in the aircraft's initial development. Simultaneously, the Brazilian Air Force was in the process of finalizing an initial purchase contract for between 22 and 30 aircraft, while Embraer was negotiating with possible partners on the programme. Two months later, the Brazilian Congress released R$800 million (US$440M) to be invested in the project and fund the aircraft's development. Around this time, the media claimed that the aircraft would be operated by the Brazilian Air Force and the Army and Navy, and that there were unconfirmed sales to other government agencies in the works.
On 14 April 2009, Embraer was awarded with a $1.5 billion contract to develop and build two prototypes. At the programme launch, the design was all-new in terms of its fuselage, wing, flight deck, and engine selection. The E-190's wing were dispensed with, partly due to its limited surface area. It was also stated that the aircraft would be the operational successor to the Brazilian Air Force's C-130 fleet. According to Embraer, the selected jet engine is sufficiently resilient to dust ingestion, whereas propeller tips close to the ground are susceptible to damage. Embraer also chose the IAE V2500 engine for its efficiency under normal conditions, rather than prioritising its performance under unusual conditions, such as on the Antonov An-32.
In March 2010, Embraer drew up a development schedule, upon which the first prototype aircraft was scheduled to be delivered in late 2014. In July 2010, at the Farnborough Airshow, the Brazilian Air Force announced its intent to order 28 C-390s, while Embraer announced an increase in the aircraft's cargo capacity to 21 t (46,000 lb). At the 2011 Paris Air Show, Embraer announced plans to launch a stretched version of the C-390 focused on the civil market for freighters sometime around 2018. It estimated that the company would receive 200–250 orders over a 10-year period. To increase internal capacity, two plugs will be added fore and aft of the centre fuselage section, which would also provide a new side cargo door.
In April 2011, Embraer estimated that 695 military transport aircraft worldwide would need to be replaced in the following decade.
In August 2010, the defence ministers of Chile and Brazil signed an agreement for the Chilean aircraft company ENAER to join the C-390 industry team. That same month, Argentine Defence Minister Nilda Garré announced that Argentina through FAdeA, would participate in the construction programme. In September 2010, Colombia signed an agreement to participate in the C-390 programme. On 10 September 2010, the defense minister of Portugal signed an intentions letter to join the programme. In December 2011, Brazil and Portugal agreed to a defense partnership with Empresa de Engenharia Aeronáutica (EEA) for developing the engineering data for the KC-390's components, which will be manufactured by Embraer's Portuguese subsidiary OGMA.
In April 2012, the American aerospace giant Boeing and Embraer signed a cooperation agreement. Two months later, an agreement was signed by the two companies to collaborate on the development of the C-390, and possibly extending to sales as well. In June 2013, Boeing agreed to market the C-390 in the US, UK, and Middle East, building on the June 2012 MoU. In November 2019, it was announced that Boeing and Embraer were to form a new joint venture company to promote and develop new markets for the C-390 Millennium. This new company, Boeing Embraer – Defense, was to have its ownership divided between a 51% stake held by Embraer and 49% by Boeing. It was to begin operations following the granting of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of closing conditions. However, in April 2020, Boeing terminated the planned joint ventures with Embraer.
Major subcontractors include Aero Vodochody for the rear fuselage section, BAE Systems for the fly-by-wire primary flight control system, ELEB for the landing gear, OGMA, involved in the design and manufacturing of the sponsons, including the central fuselage, and development of the landing gear, rear wing elevators, fuselage and part of the rudder with CEiiA, with Rockwell Collins for the avionics, cargo handling and aerial delivery system. International Aero Engines (IAE) supplies the V2500-E5 turbofans. Its use on the C-390 is its first military application. Fábrica Argentina de Aviones supplies the tail cone, cargo door and landing gear doors.
On 25 April 2023, in a joint announcement by Brazilian President Lula and the Prime Minister of Portugal, Costa stated that the KC-390 could be built or assembled in Portugal OGMA for European customers along with the new A-29N.
It was decided to construct a pair of prototypes to participate in the test programme. On 21 October 2014, the first prototype (PT-ZNF) rolled out from the Embraer subsidiary plant, Embraer Defense and Security, at Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo. On 3 February 2015, the first prototype performed its maiden flight.
In July 2015, the company announced a two-year delay in the flight test program, citing the devaluation of the Brazilian currency and government spending cuts. However, a second test flight took place at Gavião Peixoto on 26 October 2015. By February 2016, the first prototype had logged more than 100 hours of flight. Following the resumption of flight-testing, the manufacturer expected to certify the C-390 sometime in 2017 and begin deliveries in 2018. The eight months between test flights were used to conduct ground vibration tests to validate aeroelastic models, as well as avionics, mission, landing gear and electric and hydraulic flight control system testing. Embraer reported good availability for testing, sometimes conducting two flights per day. The aircraft was tested to the limits of speed, Mach number, and altitude, as well as all slats, flaps and landing gear positions.
In March 2016, the second prototype (PT-ZNJ) was completed. It conducted its first flight in April 2016. By then, Richard Aboulafia's Teal Group estimated the C-390's price to be around $50–55 million, which was $15 million below that of the competing Hercules.
On 17 October 2017, the first prototype (PT-ZNF) made an uncommanded descent from 20,000 ft to 3,100 ft at 4,500 ft/min. In December 2017, as the two prototypes accumulated over 1,500 flight hours and laboratory testing over 40,000 hours, initial operating capability was reached, while full operational capability was expected in 2018. On 5 May 2018, the first prototype (PT-ZNF) ran off the runway during a ground test in Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil. The first production C-390, which was the third aircraft to be built including the prototypes, made its first flight on 6 October 2018.
On 23 October 2018, the C-390 was issued with Brazilian civil type certification. By this point, the aircraft has cumulatively attained 1,900 flight hours during testing, while the first production aircraft was set to be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force in the first half of 2019 and should obtain military certification by the end of 2019. The third aircraft (PT-ZNG), originally slated for the first delivery, was instead redirected towards the certification efforts.
In February 2021, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force dispatched a single KC-390 to the US to undergo testing under extreme cold conditions.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Brazilian Air Force fleet of C-390 had accumulated more than 8,000 flight hours, having participated in aviation fairs and carried out missions on all continents including Antarctica, where C-390 from the Fat Squadron (1st/1st GT) performed two air resupply missions for the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station. At the end of March 2023, the aircraft received the Final Type Certificate, reaching full operational capability (FOC).
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a mid-sized utility transport aircraft. Its design permits flexible operations. Both the internal and external configuration of the aircraft can be rapidly interchanged to accommodate different mission roles due the modular design adopted since the aircraft concept for all missions systems. It incorporates modern technology and mission software to aid crews in carrying out operations. The cockpit has head-up displays for the enhanced vision system with four cameras and Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion commercial avionics. The C-390 can provide inflight refueling to other aircraft through two wing-mounted probe and drogue pods from Cobham plc. These can deliver fuel at up to 1,500 L (400 US gal) per minute from a 35 t (77,000 lb) total fuel capacity, between 120 and 300 kn (220 and 560 km/h) and from 2,000 to 32,000 ft (610 to 9,750 m).
The aircraft is powered by a pair of IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, which are mounted forward on the high wing. This wing features an anhedral angle, slats, and High-lift devices able to deflect up to 40°. The landing gear is equipped with low-pressure tires, two 5.9 bar (85 psi) on the nose and four 7.2 bar (105 psi) on either side bogies, which facilitate the aircraft's use upon soft, unpaved ground, such as austere airstrips, or damaged runways. The C-390 has a cruising speed of Mach 0.8 which, according to Embraer, enables payloads to be transported faster than any other airplane in the medium airlift market. It can attain a controlled descend rate of 9,000 ft/min (2,700 m/min) at its 300 kn (560 km/h) maximum IAS through a combination of extended slats, idle thrust, and flight spoilers extended to 40°. When its flaps are fully deployed at 40 degrees, it has a stall speed of 104 kn (193 km/h) IAS.
The aircraft is equipped with fully fly-by-wire flight controls combined with active sidesticks, which reduces the crew's workload over conventional counterparts and permits load factors up to 3g. An autothrottle system is installed. The navigation systems, which were largely supplied by Thales Group, include an Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) transponder. It is fitted with SELEX Galileo's Gabbiano tactical radar, capable of GMTI, SAR, ISAR, SART modes amongst others. For self-defense purposes, an Elbit Systems-supplied directional infrared countermeasures suite is typically installed. An integrated onboard maintenance system actively monitors the health of the overall aircraft and various subsystems at all times.
The hold of the C-390 has a length of 18.5 m (61 ft), width of 3.45 m (11.3 ft), and height of 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in), and is primarily accessed via a large rear ramp built into the tail. It can carry payloads of up to 26 t (57,000 lb). This allows for the carriage of either two fully-tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, one Boxer or Brazilian VBTP-MR Guarani wheeled armoured vehicle, a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, 74 litters with life-support equipment, up to 80 soldiers or 66 paratroopers with full gear. Loads of up to 42,000 lb (19 t) can be air dropped. A cargo handling and aerial delivery system, produced by DRS Defense Solutions, is incorporated. Typical amenities present in the hold include a galley, an accessibility-friendly toilet, automatic temperature control, and noise/vibration mitigation measures. Embraer have stated that considerable attention was paid to passenger comfort.
In 2014, the Brazilian government ordered 28 C-390s. There was the stated intention of progressively replacing the Brazilian Air Force's existing cargo aircraft fleet with the type, including its C-130s. The first C-390 was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force on 4 September 2019. The fleet of C-390s will be operated from Anápolis Air Force Base by the 1st Troop Transportation Group (1º GTT) Zeus and in Rio de Janeiro by the 1st/1st GT Gordo.
In the first 3.5 years of operation, the C-390 in the FAB totaled more than 8,200 flight hours with 6,000 flights, the technical availability was around 80% and the mission completion rate was 99.5%, according to Embraer data and the FAB.
In January 2021, in the middle of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brazilian city of Manaus, located in the interior of the Amazon rainforest, was left with an overburdened medical service needing medical supplies and help with transferring patients. A major operation was set up by the Brazilian air force, mobilizing all its available transport aviation. The C-390 played a key role in this operation, carrying out an airlift mission connecting the city of Manaus to the rest of the country, taking hospital supplies and removing hundreds of patients from an overloaded Manaus.
Following the 2020 Beirut explosion, a C-390 and an Embraer 190 VC-2 were sent with around six tons of medicines, food and health equipment to provide emergency care. It was the first international mission of the aircraft in FAB service.
In February 2021, during Operational Exercise "Culminating", in Louisiana, United States, the KC-390 conducted joint flights with US Air Force C-17 and C-130 airlifters. The combined force launched 4,000 paratroopers in a single night jump. In 2021, after the Haiti earthquake, the C-390 was dispatched to Haiti with around eleven tons of medicine and specialized firefighting equipment for search and rescue in collapsed structures, search dogs and doctors.
A single C-390 flew to Ushuaia carrying spare parts in support of a FAB C-130 that was on an Antarctic operation. In the Russian-Ukrainian conflict of 2022, a KC-390 and a VC-99B Legacy were sent with a mission to rescue Brazilian nationals and other countries. The mission also brought around 12 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The mission rescued national, Ukrainian, Argentine and Colombian citizens, all of whom were taken to Brazil.
In February 2022, the Brazilian government and Embraer agreed to downsize the former's order for C-390s to 22, which was a reduction from the original order for 28 aircraft. This measure, which was taken as a financial austerity measure due to COVID-19, was less severe than early suggestions for as few as 15. At this point, four C-390s were in FAB service.
As of June 2022, a C-390 from the Fat Squadron (1st/1st GT) of the FAB participated for the first time in the Brazilian Antarctic Campaign, dropping supply loads for the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station. The C-390 participated in 2022 in Operation Cooperation VII in Colombia, operating on runways of up to 2,100 meters, at altitudes simulating missions of humanitarian assistance and paratrooper launches.
In 2023, aircraft participated in Operation Surucucu delivering supplies by air to the indigenous Yanomami peoples who live between the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. In 2023, they also participated in the Salitre IV exercise, in Chile, where a KC-390 and six F-5s carried out 50 combat missions with the tanker aircraft performing the first combat refueling in an international mission.
In December 2024, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) signed an agreement at Mostra BID, the National Defense and Security Fair in Brasilia, to deepen collaborative studies aimed at expanding the capabilities of the C-390 Millennium platform for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, with a focus on Maritime Patrol.
In February 2010, Embraer proposed the C-390 to the Portuguese Ministry of Defense as a replacement option for the Portuguese Air Force (FAP)'s aging fleet of C-130s. In July 2017, the Portuguese government authorized the purchase of five C-390 airlifters, with the option for a sixth. The deal includes five C-390s and a flight simulator for pilot training, was reportedly valued at €827 million. The first aircraft was delivered to Portugal in February 2023 and achieved operational status in October 2023. The final C-390 is scheduled to be delivered by February 2027.
Among its first missions in the Portuguese Air Force in October 2023, the C-390 transported military personnel and cargo to the Canary Islands, Spain, in support of the multinational Spanish-led exercise Ocean Sky 2023. It then progressed to the United States where it picked up one of the Black Hawk helicopters procured by Portugal. On its return flight, it crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a direct flight from Providence, Rhode Island to Ovar.
In November 2020, almost six months after the Hungarian Air Force retired its last Soviet-era An-26 military cargo plane, Hungary signed an order for two KC-390s, along with full training, support and maintenance. The configurations that the Hungarian Defence Forces ordered include the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) kit, enabling Hungary to provide intensive care medicine in humanitarian missions abroad.
On 19 November 2021, Embraer started assembly of the first Hungarian KC-390 at its Gavião Peixoto facility. On 12 April 2024, the first C-390 was delivered to the Hungarian Air Force, landing at Kecskemét Air Base. Before returning to Brazil, it underwent a three-week testing period and received NATO-standard communication equipment. The first aircraft was delivered to Kecskemét Airbase on 5 September 2024.
In June 2022 the Netherlands Ministry of Defense announced that it had found a successor to the Royal Netherlands Air Force's (RNLAF) C-130H Hercules, which were becoming increasingly maintenance-hungry due to their advanced age. Instead of being phased out by 2031, their replacement would begin in 2026. As suggested through operational experiences in Kabul in the summer of 2021 and events along NATO's eastern flank in the spring of 2022, an increased need for the transport mission had been identified. Furthermore, the C-390 Millennium was found to surpass the requirements. Instead of the anticipated four aircraft, the RNLAF expects to receive five aircraft from 2026 onwards, allowing annual flight hours to rise from the required 2,400 to 4,000. It was reported in November 2024 that a modification package for the C-390s will be delivered by Fokker Services Group.
In September 2023, Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner announced the C-390 as the successor to the Austrian Air Force's C-130 Hercules, stating that "Embraer's aircraft system is the only one in the 20 ton class that meets all our requirements." The order was confirmed at the Farnborough Airshow 2024 for four units. Delivery are scheduled to begin in 2027 and conclude by 2030 according to the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer.
In December 2023, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) decided to introduce three KC-390s by 2026, with a budget of KRW 710 billion (US$540M). A DAPA official explained that the reason for choosing the C-390 was that there was no significant difference in cost and performance compared to other competitors such as Lockheed Martin and Airbus, but there was a meaningful difference in contract terms such as offset requirements and allowing South Korean companies to participate in production.
On 9 November 2024, the Swedish Air Force announced the selection and the beginning of negotiations to procure the C-390 Millenium to replace its aging C-130 Hercules and in exchange, the Brazilian Air Force announced that will increase its contract with Saab by 25%, increasing to 45 JAS 39 Gripens to be purchased for the FAB. On 1 April 2025, during LAAD Defence & Security, Embraer announced a deal for four KC-390s to Sweden.
In November 2024, the Slovak Air Force was evaluating the C-390 for operation as its new transport aircraft. On 10 December 2024, it was announced that the C-390 had been selected, and negotiations for the purchase of three aircraft would begin.
On 27 December 2024, Embraer announced a contract for two aircraft for an undisclosed customer.
The C-390 has been marketed as a jet-powered alternative to the Lockheed C-130. In May 2023, the commander of the Brazilian Air Force, Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, pointed to Austria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, and Sweden as potential buyers for the KC-390.
BAE Systems signed an agreement with Embraer to market the C-390 to Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
In November 2023, it was reported that Embraer and Saudi Arabia's SAMI have partnered to pitch the C-390 transport to the Saudi Arabian government, including the potential for local assembly and support.
Morocco has received one KC-390 Millennium for testing purposes, pending a potential acquisition agreement between Morocco and Brazil.
In April 2024, Embraer and Brazilian postal company Correios signed a Memorandum of Understanding focusing on air cargo transport. The partnership includes a plan to evaluate the C-390 as a civilian cargo aircraft for Correios.
Data from Aviation Week, Embraer
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