Embraer KC - 390 The Embraer KC - 390 is a medium - size , twin - engine jet - powered military transport aircraft under development by Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer . It is able to perform aerial refueling , transport cargo and troops , and to receive fuel in - flight . It will be the heaviest aircraft that the company has made , and will be able to transport up to 21 tonnes ( 23 tons ) of cargo , including wheeled armored vehicles . Design and development . In 2006 , Embraer began studies on a military tactical transport design of a similar size to the Lockheed C - 130 Hercules . In April 2007 , Embraer reported it was studying a medium - size airlifter , with the company designation " C - 390 " . The transport aircraft is to incorporate many of the technological solutions from the Embraer E - Jets series . It will feature a rear ramp for loading and unloading a wide range of cargo . The unit price is estimated to be around US $ 50 million , while the competition sells similar models , such as the C - 130J for up to $ 62 million . The vice president of Embraer , Luís Carlos Aguilar , said that according to their estimates , some 695 military transport aircraft in the world will need to be replaced during the next decade , and that there is potential market for this kind of plane . Potential powerplant options have been studied in the 75 . 6 to 98 kN ( 17 , 000 – 22 , 000 lb ) thrust range , including engines such as Pratt & Whitney ' s PW6000 and Rolls - Royce ' s BR715 . In early March 2008 , the Brazilian Government planned to invest about R $ 60 million ( or US $ 33 M ) in initial development of the aircraft . At the same time , the Brazilian Air Force was finalizing the purchase contract that probably will buy 22 to 30 aircraft in the first order . Embraer is talking with the possible partners . In May 2008 , the Brazilian Congress released 800 million Reais ( US $ 440 M ) to be invested in the project and development of the aircraft . The media also claimed that this aircraft is not only going to be used by the Brazilian Air Force , but also for Brazilian Army and Brazilian Navy , but still not confirmed for government agencies . On 14 April 2009 , Embraer was awarded with a $ 1 . 5 billion contract to develop and build 2 prototypes . In March 2010 , Embraer drew up a development schedule , with the first prototype aircraft scheduled to be delivered in late 2014 . In July 2010 , during the Farnborough Airshow , the Brazilian Air Force announced it will order 28 KC - 390s . During the show , Embraer announced an increase in the cargo capacity to 21 tonnes ( 23 tons ) and that first flight is planned for 2014 . In 2010 , National Aerospace Laboratory ( NLR ) designed and built a large high - grade aluminium alloy wind tunnel model for the KC - 390 , focused on its aerodynamic features during takeoff and landing . During 2011 Paris Air Show , Embraer announced plans to launch a stretch version of the KC - 390 focused on the civil cargo market in 2018 , with 200 - 250 predicted orders over a 10 - year period . Two plugs will be added before and after of the center section to lengthen the fuselage from the current 33 . 91 m ( 111 . 3 ft ) , not only increasing internal capacity , but also providing for a side cargo door . In June 2012 , Boeing and Embraer agreed to co - operate with technical know - how to spur development of the aircraft . The companies are to exchange technical and market information , and possibly team up for commercial opportunities . The KC - 390 collaboration is part of a broader agreement that Boeing and Embraer signed in April of the same year . Partnerships and manufacturing . In August 2010 , Argentine Defence Minister Nilda Garré announced that Argentina will participate on the construction of the C - 390 . On 24 August 2010 the defence ministers of Chile and Brazil signed an agreement for Chile ' s ENAER company to join KC - 390 industry team . Colombia also signed an agreement to join the KC - 390 programme . On 10 September 2010 Portugal defense minister signed an intentions letter in order to join the programme . On 14 December 2011 , Embraer announced that Brazil and Portugal have signed an agreement for defense partnership contract , through EEA , will develop the engineering project for the KC - 390 ’ s components , which will be manufactured by Embraer subsidiary OGMA . In September 2010 , it was reported that the Czech company Aero Vodochody might manufacture some parts for the KC - 390 . In April 2011 Aero Vodochody was selected to build the rear fuselage section , crew and parachute doors , emergency doors and hatches , cargo ramp and fixed leading edge . In October 2010 , Embraer announced negotiations for the involvement in the KC - 390 manufacturing of Argentina ' s Fabrica Argentina de Aviones ( FAdeA ) which will also provide parts for Embraer ' s commercial jets . In April 2011 , an agreement between Embraer and FAdeA was signed to manufacture the spoilers , nose landing gear doors , ramp door , flap fairings , tail cone , and electronic cabinet at Cordoba , Argentina . The first parts will be delivered in July 2013 . On 22 March 2011 , DRS Defense Solutions was selected to deliver the tanker / transport ' s cargo handling and aerial delivery system . On 7 April , the Brazilian company ELEB ( a wholly owned subsidiary of Embraer ) , was chosen to design and manufacture the landing gear . On 5 May 2011 , Embraer stated that it had selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Pro Line Fusion Avionics System with Liquid Crystal Displays , Integrated Flight Information Systems ( IFIS ) with electronic charts and enhanced maps , advanced Flight Management Systems ( FMS ) with Wide Area Augmentation System , and an Information Management System ( IMS ) to manage databases and facilitate data transfer with the ground infrastructure . On 27 March 2012 , Rockwell Collins announced that it will be providing DF - 430 Direction Finder and HF - 9000 high frequency radios to the aircraft . On 21 June 2011 , Embraer announced it had selected Esterline Technologies Corporation to supply the autothrottle system . On 5 January 2012 , Esterline issued a press release stating that it has been selected by Embraer to design and manufacture the rudder pedal stations , flap selectors , speed brake LRUs , landing gear levers , wheel tiller , and autobrake switch control panels for the aircraft . On 23 June 2011 , Messier - Bugatti - Dowty ( Safran group ) have been selected to supply the wheels , carbon brakes , braking control system , landing gear extension and retraction system , and nose wheel steering manifold . On 15 July 2011 , Embraer selected Liebherr - Aerospace to provide the environmental and cabin pressure control system . On 26 July 2011 , Embraer announced its selection of BAE Systems to provide hardware , embedded software , system design and integration support of the flight control electronics . BAE will perform software , hardware , and system design and support integration of the flight control electronics on the aircraft . On 3 April 2012 , BAE Systems announced it had been chosen to provide active side sticks as part of the overall cockpit controls . On 27 July 2011 , Goodrich Corporation announced it has been awarded with a contract to design and produce a fully integrated , fly - by wire , primary flight control system comprising electro - hydrostatic actuators ( EHAs ) , electro - backup hydrostatic actuators ( EBHAs ) , actuator electronics and electrical controls . On 7 May 2012 , Goodrich announced it had been selected to provide additional components for the aircraft , including air data system , ice detector , windshield ice protection controller , and the fuel quantity gauging and control system . In July 2011 , Embraer announced it had chosen the IAE V2500 - E5 turbofan engine for the KC - 390 . On 8 September 2011 , Embraer Defense and Security has chosen SELEX Galileo ' s Gabbiano Tactical radar , model T - 20 . Which is based on Modular Radar Processor ( MRP ) technology and employs a transmitter that uses SSA ( Solid State Amplifier ) technology . The multi - mode radar combines : GMTI mode to provide moving target locations overlaid on a digital map ; Strip SAR mode to map wide swath areas ; Spot SAR mode to produces a high resolution image at a specific geographic patch ; ISAR mode to classify moving targets on maritime patrol missions ; SART mode for emergency . On 8 September 2011 , Embraer announced that Elbit System ’ s Brazilian subsidiary AEL Sistemas has been chosen to supply the mission computer . On 26 October 2011 , Elbit Systems announced that its subsidiary AEL have been awarded with an additional $ 25 million contract to develop the Self - Protection Suite ( SPS ) , the Directional Infrared Countermeasures ( DIRCM ) and the pilot orientation Head - Up Display ( HUD ) for the aircraft . On 11 September Embraer chose Fischer + Entwicklungen to design and build the crew seats for the KC - 390 . On 14 November 2011 , Embraer has provided Hispano - Suiza ( Safran group ) with a contract to supply electrical power distribution systems , which includes : Primary Electrical Power Distribution System ( PEPDS ) , Secondary Power Distribution System ( SPDS ) and Electrical Power System ( EPS ) . On 28 October 2011 , LMI Aerospace of the United States announced it was awarded with a $ 44 million contract to design and build the complete wing slat system . Embraer would be funding the engineering , testing and tooling with milestone payments throughout the development process . Later , LMI teamed up with ASCO to design and manufacture the slat track mechanisms for the aircraft . On 5 December 2011 , Eaton Corporation announced it will design , develop and supply airframe fuel system components for the KC - 390 . In April 2012 , Embraer Defense and Security chose Eaton Corporation to supply the on - board inert gas generation system . On 7 December 2011 , Cobham plc announced in a news release that it has been chosen to supply refuelling receiver probes for the aircraft . On 14 December 2011 , Hamilton Sundstrand announced it has been chosen to supply the Electric Power Generating System for the aircraft . On 19 January 2012 , Hamilton Sundstrand has been chosen to supply the Auxiliary Power Unit ( APU ) . On 14 December 2011 , OGMA and Embraer sign partnership agreement , OGMA will produce : central fuselage panels , elevators , fairings and landing - gear doors , and will support Embraer during the certification phase . On 11 January 2012 , It was announced by ACSS , a The joint venture of L - 3 Communications and Thales that the company was selected to provide its T3CAS traffic management computer as the standard surveillance avionics suite to provide integrated Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System ( TCAS ) and Mode S Transponder . On 20 January 2012 , It was announced that Embraer has chosen Sagem ' s ( Safran group ) actuator system for the horizontal stabilizer trim system ( HSTS ) . On 4 May 2012 , Thales Group has announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide Inertial Navigation System ( INS ) and the GPS of the KC - 390 . The aircraft will be equipped with Thales HPIRS ( High Performance Inertial Reference System ) . On 9 June 2012 , L - 3 Avionics Systems was selected to supply its GH - 3900 Electronic Standby Instrument System ( ESIS ) , FA5001 cockpit voice and data recorder and Micro Quick Access Recorder . On 20 August 2012 , Honeywell Aerospace announced that it has signed a contract with Embraer to provide its eNfusion AMT - 3800 Inmarsat High - Gain Antenna system on Embraer ’ s upcoming KC - 390 military transport aircraft for multiple customers including the Brazilian Air Force . The antenna will provide the KC - 390 with voice and data communications capabilities using the Inmarsat network to deliver advanced data link features for Communication Navigation Surveillance ( CNS ) and Air Traffic Management ( ATM ) . By using the network , data can be sent and received “ real time , ” enabling a continuous stream of communications to help flight crews maximize operations both on the ground and in the air . On 11 September 2012 , Northrop Grumman announced that it has signed a contract with Embraer to supply the hybrid global positioning system ( GPS ) and inertial reference system for the KC - 390 . Under the contract , the company ' s German navigation systems subsidiary , Northrop Grumman LITEF , will provide the fibre - optic , gyro - compass LCR - 100 Attitude and Heading Reference System . On 19 December 2012 , Astronics Corporation announced that it had been selected to supply exterior lighting systems for the KC - 390 . Operational history . Orders and potential customer evaluations . It was reported in 2007 that the Brazilian postal service Correios was interested in buying at least 5 and eventually 20 to 25 of the aircraft , in lieu of using commercial freight service for mail transport . On 19 May 2011 , it was stated that Correioslog will buy around 15 aircraft for civil use . In September 2008 , the Portuguese Air Force chief - of - staff , being interviewed for a national aviation newspaper " Take Off " revealed a service interest in the airplane as a possible C - 130 fleet replacement , although this interest was outlined as the PoAF being closely monitoring the C - 390 development , with a possible order in the future . In February 2010 , a further notice reports that Embraer proposed to the Ministry of Defense the acquisition of KC - 390 to substitute the ageing C - 130 of the Portuguese Air Force . In December 2011 it was announced that the Portuguese government will sign a 87 million euro contract with Embraer for part of the production of the KC - 390 . On 7 September 2009 , it was announced that France was interested in buying 10 KC - 390s as part of negotiations for Brazil to buy the Dassault Rafale . On 2 October 2009 , Sweden declared its intention to evaluate the KC - 390 transport aircraft for long term tactical air transport needs connected to its F - X2 offer on JAS 39 Gripen . In July 2010 , Brazilian Air Force announced it intend to buy 28 aircraft . In August 2010 , it was announced that the Chilean Air Force plans to order six KC - 390s . It was reported in September 2010 that Colombia intends to order 12 KC - 390s . Later on that month , it was also reported that Czech Republic air force might acquire two KC - 390s . In October 2010 , Embraer announced the future acquisition of six KC - 390s by the Argentine Air Force . It was reported that Brazil and the UAE were negotiating an agreement for military cooperation , which would involve sales of KC - 390 in late October . On 14 February 2012 , Brazilian Defence Minister announced that Peru is interested in potentially acquiring an undisclosed number of KC - 390s .