Embraer KC-390

[Harald]

Dit optie aantal is wel opmerkelijk. Portugal heeft ook een optie van 10 stuks. Als al die opties worden afgenomen, dan wordt de Europese transportvloot flink vernieuwd.

   Deze opties zouden ingevuld kunnen worden voor eigen vergroting van de transportvloot, maar zou ook kunnen als  optie voor nieuwe deelnemers om zo sneller nieuwe vliegtuigen te kunnen aanschaffen en ontvangen doordat ze niet opnieuw een aankoop traject hoeven door te lopen, maar al in een bestaand contract kopen.

[Sparkplug]

7 extra airframes in het contract, misschien toch maar eens overwegen om die 6e c-390 voor de klu te bestellen [of 6 t/m 8]

Dit optie aantal is wel opmerkelijk. Portugal heeft ook een optie van 10 stuks. Als al die opties worden afgenomen, dan wordt de Europese transportvloot flink vernieuwd.

[Harald]

https://x.com/embraer/status/1975171745658138658/photo/1


https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2025/10/flygvapnets-nya-transportflyg-c-390/

[Parera]

NEWS | Sweden orders four Embraer C-390 Millennium as part of joint European procurement; contract includes seven additional options paving the way for future acquisitions. Read full news: https://embraer.com/media-center/en/?mediatype=NEWS&detail=22418-Sweden-orders-four-Embraer-C-390-Millennium-as-part-of-joint-European-procurement%3B-contract-includes-seven-additional-options-paving-the-way-for-future-acquisitions

7 extra airframes in het contract, misschien toch maar eens overwegen om die 6e c-390 voor de klu te bestellen [of 6 t/m 8]

[Harald]

Embraer Pushes KC-390 Tanker Transport Aircraft for US Air Force with Local Production.

Embraer is positioning the KC-390 Millennium for the U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air-refueling System, responding to recent NGAS RFIs and scouting a potential U.S. assembly site. A domestic line, pegged around a $500 million investment, per company indications, could strengthen "Buy American" eligibility and competitiveness for tanker and airlift roles.

The U.S. Air Force has been gathering industry inputs for its Next Generation Air-refueling System (NGAS), with Air Mobility Command leaders emphasizing that all tanker concepts, from conventional to blended-wing and business-jet derivatives, are on the table. In parallel, Embraer confirmed it is developing options to assemble the KC-390 in the United States as it tailors the aircraft for U.S. requirements, including a boom-equipped tanker variant. Company signals suggest a prospective investment of the order of $500 million to support local content and eligibility, contingent on U.S. sales.

The company highlights its existing industrial footprint in the United States. Embraer says more than half of the aircraft's material content already comes from 59 U.S. suppliers. The point is to make the transition to local assembly less difficult and to address a recurring concern in Washington that focuses not only on the production site but also on content origin.

The previous U.S. teaming arrangement paired Embraer with L3Harris on a tactical tanker variant, a path that has since closed. Industry sources now mention Northrop Grumman as a potential partner, although no official announcement has been made as of the cited dates. The main change is a stated intent to anchor production on U.S. soil and to align a supplier base that meets domestic content rules from the outset of any competition.

The KC-390 is a medium-sized jet transport powered by two high-bypass turbofans, optimized for operations on short or semi-prepared runways and fitted with a rear cargo ramp for rapid loading. Data published by Embraer places maximum payload at 26 metric tons for concentrated loads and 23 metric tons for distributed loads, with about 23.9 metric tons of usable wing fuel. The aircraft cruises up to 470 KTAS, around Mach 0.80, and has a service ceiling of 36,000 ft, with cabin altitude limited to 8,000 ft at maximum ceiling.

The cargo hold accepts NATO-standard pallets in configurations of 6 regular pallets or 7 pallets of the 463L type, up to 24 CDS bundles measuring 48 by 48 inches, 3 to 4 light vehicles or 1 to 2 heavy vehicles, and one Black Hawk-size helicopter. The avionics are fully digital, and fly-by-wire provides flight-envelope protection and gust alleviation. The cargo handling system is designed to reduce turnaround times, and the communications architecture provides digital situational awareness and interoperability with other platforms and allies. The tanker configuration adds underwing refueling pods and fuel management that can support top-offs for fighters and helicopters as well as larger transfers to transports and special-mission aircraft. Designed to stringent requirements, the aircraft uses a reinforced structure to operate from austere or damaged runways and in extreme environments, from humid Amazon conditions to polar climates and hot, sandy deserts.

At the systems level, the airframe is wired for survivability and self-protection equipment. Aids include radar and missile warning, along with expendables, and the electrical architecture and integration reserves allow for additional electronic warfare equipment. Fly-by-wire improves precision during air refueling and low-level flight, and the mission systems support precision airdrop for cargo and paratroops.

From the outset the KC-390 was intended to be multi-mission. It covers tactical transport, airdrop, and medical evacuation with modular layouts, up to 80 litters depending on configuration, or combinations such as 36 passengers and 50 litters, and up to 74 litters with 8 attendants. Personnel transport layouts reach 80 occupants, and the aircraft can carry 64 paratroopers ready to jump. For a U.S. proposal, Embraer emphasizes growth margins. A U.S. assembly line would facilitate integration of U.S. radios and data links, cryptographic systems, locally sourced electronic warfare suites, and, if required, a refueling configuration tailored to NGAS specifications.

In employment, the aircraft sits between small tactical transports and the large tankers and strategic airlifters already in U.S. service. It can move fuel forward to fighters, provide small fuel top-ups to helicopters, or support special operations aircraft without committing a heavy platform. It can also carry cargo on the same sortie, then switch to medical evacuation or humanitarian relief without major reconfiguration, which contributes to overall productivity. This flexibility matters when planners expect a mix of contested and permissive environments.

For NGAS, survivability requirements will be higher. The U.S. Air Force's vision anticipates operations in more hazardous airspace in the 2030s, which implies low-observable features, stand-off refueling options, or both, as well as reinforced self-protection suites. Embraer presents the KC-390 as a baseline that can take on additional sensors and protection in line with this trajectory, while acknowledging that program thresholds and objectives are still being refined.

Industrial and political dimensions are central. NGAS has about 13 million dollars allocated in fiscal year 2026, indicating an early stage. Expected competitors are well established. Boeing produces the KC-46A and has a deep U.S. footprint. Lockheed Martin could reenter the tanker space through partnerships, and Airbus draws on the A330 MRTT export record. For a non U.S. prime, local assembly, jobs, and domestic content share are prerequisites. Embraer appears to accept this approach, having already built a U.S. industrial base around its regional and business jets. The difference here concerns defense and the scale of a tanker program. Congress will examine where factories and suppliers are located and how quickly a new line can reach maturity.

The wider picture also matters. Several European and Asian air forces operate or have ordered the KC-390, offering operational data the U.S. Air Force can review. Brazil and the United States have previously cooperated on defense technology, and Brasília would view a U.S. line as a way to strengthen the type's credibility while reducing policy friction tied to import rules. For Washington, a second source in the tanker transport niche could add resilience if costs and performance align and if the aircraft meets the survivability aims NGAS is shaping. The objective is demanding. At this stage, the information is that a manufacturer is moving early, selecting sites, and preparing to meet domestic content law, since without those steps, there would be no path to a credible bid.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/embraer-pushes-kc-390-tanker-transport-aircraft-for-us-air-force-with-local-production

[Lynxian]

Lekker. Dat gezamelijk aankopen lijkt echt z'n vruchten af te werpen.

[Sparkplug]

Zweden stapt aan boord Nederlandse aankoop Embraer C-390

 Redactie Piloot en Vliegtuig - 1 oktober 2025


Illustratie: Embraer

STOCKHOLM – De Zweedse luchtmacht stapt maandag (6 oktober) officieel aan boord van de Nederlandse-Oostenrijkse samenwerking voor de aankoop van Embraer C-390 Millenniums. In de praktijk betekent dit dat Nederland maandag in Zweden tekent voor de levering van vier C-390M's aan de Zweedse luchtmacht.

Zweden tekende bijna een jaar geleden zelf al een intentieverklaring voor vier toestellen. Afgelopen voorjaar werd duidelijk dat het Noord-Europese land samen optrekt met Nederland en Oostenrijk.

Omdat Nederland van de drie landen de sturende en coördinerende rol heeft, mag demissionair staatssecretaris van Defensie Gijs Tuinman de deal maandag bekrachtigen. Dat gebeurt op de vliegbasis Uppsala, iets ten noorden van Stockholm. Bij de ondertekening zijn ook de topman van Embraer Defense en hoge politieke en militaire functionarissen uit Zweden en Oostenrijk aanwezig.

De Zweedse luchtmacht Flygvapnet vervangt met de Embraer C-390 Millennium enkele tientallen jaren oude transportvliegtuigen van de types C-130E/H Hercules. Aan boord van de C-390M is plaats voor maximaal tachtig militairen of 26 ton vracht.

https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/militair/zweden-stapt-aan-boord-nederlandse-aankoop-embraer-c-390/

[Harald]

[Sparkplug]

Embraer presents KC-390 Millennium demonstrator aircraft with new visual identity

Published

September 19, 2025

• The aircraft will be used to intensify demonstrations for potential customers, as well as to support participation in trade shows, marketing initiatives, and events around the world
• New livery marks unprecedented phase for the tactical transport aircraft, which has gained traction among European countries and NATO members

Confins, Brazil, September 19, 2025 - Embraer (NYSE: ERJ/ B3: EMBR3), one of the global leaders in the aerospace industry, today presented the new visual identity of the KC-390 Millennium demonstrator aircraft. Held in Confins, Minas Gerais, the event took place at GOL Aerotech's facilities, where the aircraft received its new livery.

This presentation celebrates the extremely positive momentum of the KC-390 Program through a new and striking visual identity, which reflects the characteristics that have led the Millennium to solidify its position as a global leader in the medium segment of military tactical transport.

"This new visual identity represents an important milestone in the history of the KC-390 Millennium, the multi-mission aircraft of the 21st century. Its unbeatable combination of speed, agility, robustness, reliability, technology and efficiency—unique in the segment—not only strengthens the defense capabilities of its operators, but also promotes strategic interoperability among allied nations," said Bosco da Costa Júnior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

Driven by growing global interest in the KC-390 Millennium, Embraer Defense & Security will intensify marketing and demonstrations to potential customers using the new visual identity, with the first international appearance taking place by the end of this year.

The painting of the demonstrator aircraft at GOL Aerotech's facilities also opens up the possibility of future painting of customers' aircraft, in addition to the expansion of Embraer's production capacity to meet the global demand for the KC-390.

Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024, the KC-390 Millennium has proven its capability, reliability and performance. The current fleet in operation has demonstrated a mission completion rate of more than 99%, highlighting exceptional productivity in its category. To date, the 21st-century aircraft has been chosen by 11 Air Forces around the world, including eight European countries and seven NATO members.

The KC-390 Millennium can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther. It is capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue (SAR), firefighting and humanitarian missions, and operating on temporary or unpaved runways, such as packed earth, soil and gravel. The aircraft configured with air-to-air, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.

Images: https://embraer.bynder.com/share/97139D5F-E5A4-4282-90BE43666F2FC86F/

.../...

https://www.embraer.com/media-center/en/?mediatype=NEWS&detail=22145-Embraer-presents-KC-390-Millennium-demonstrator-aircraft-with-new-visual-identity

[Harald]

Despite Setbacks, Embraer Still Pitching KC-390 As Air Force ACE Tanker Of Choice

Embraer still has hopes that the USAF will adopt the KC-390 to fit its future combat plans that focus on tactical operations out of remote airfields.

While a joint partnership between Brazilian aerospace company Embraer and L3Harris Technologies to outfit Embraer's KC-390 Millennium tanker-transport with U.S. systems and a custom refueling boom was formally declared dead late last year, the company is advancing a fresh effort to sell the Millennium to the Air Force.

You can read all about the compelling case for a boom-equipped KC-390 that fits within the Air Force's emerging battle concept in this past feature.

At the Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference this week, Embraer displayed a model of the twin jet medium-lift aircraft in full Air Force livery and touted its American-made parts. With more than half the components built in the U.S., including a flight data recorder from L3Harris, and much of the guts, like its V2500-E5 engine's avionics made by RTX-owned companies, the aircraft is Buy American Act compliant and capable of serving as as a tactical transport or a tanker in the austere environments where the Air Force expects to concentrate significant aspects of its future combat operations. The KC-390 has loosely similar lifting capabilities as the C-130J Super Hercules.

Embraer is also evaluating site locations in the U.S. for a KC-390 manufacturing facility, the company said. It now operates out of nine U.S. locations, including Jacksonville, Florida, where it conducts final assembly for the A-29 Super Tucano.

The KC-390 marks a decade since its first flight this year and now serves 11 international customers, many of them within NATO, Frederico Lemos, chief commercial officer for Defense and Security, told The War Zone. While Embraer has made public overtures to sell a variant of the aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for several years, it's now touting an additional selling point: a U.S. demonstration tour completed earlier this year, in which the Millennium participated in a spectrum of defense, disaster response, and space-focused events.

.../...

https://www.twz.com/air/despite-setbacks-embraer-still-pitching-kc-390-as-air-force-ace-tanker-of-choice




"We see that the tanking needs of the U.S. Air Force are there. There's an aging fleet that is coming to the end of its service life, and the challenges [of] the mission that we see for the future is different from the past. So you need the combination of capabilities. You need strategic tanking, but you also need tactical tanking, and more than that, you need to have assets that can do multiple missions from areas that you don't have," he said. "All the logistics and preparedness in terms of airfields that you used to have. You need to operate from remote locations, small islands, small airfields. And the KC-390 fits in that role ...So more missions with less assets that are more affordable and with a lower life-cycle cost throughout its life."

Embraer also touts KC-390's readiness for the Air Force with its full operational capability status and its contemporary design, with high customizability and open-architecture construction to meet customers needs.

"You can select the mission mode, so the behavior of the aircraft depends on the type of mission," Lemos said. "You have a lot of connectivity, compatible with the latest generation of fighters ... we have ISR that can be used for reconnaissance but also for laser designation and target identification, to be combined with kinetic effects ... or to send information to other fighters or other assets in the zone."

Lemos wouldn't describe any feedback he's getting from the Air Force on its Millennium pitch, but he acknowledged modifications would need to be made.

"What we need to do is to listen, from the Air Force, what specific connectivity they would like to add on top of the 390 to make it more interoperable," he said.

The boom may also make a return. While current product imagery of the KC-390 show drogues, Lemos said earlier this year, according to a Breaking Defense report, that it would be willing to self-fund a refueling boom for an Air Force tanker variant – effectively a necessity, given the number of Air Force planes requiring one – if the service NGAS assessments made space for the possibility of Millennium adoption.

[Harald]

Goed bericht voor de Export orders, minder kans op vertragingen

Brazil Extends KC-390 Aircraft Deliveries to Air Force Until 2034

Brazil confirmed Embraer will complete delivery of 19 KC-390 Millennium jets to its Air Force by 2034.

Brazil's air transport modernization confirms that Embraer will finish delivering 19 KC-390 Millennium aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) by 2034. Originally launched in 2014 with a plan for 28 aircraft within nine years, the program was restructured due to financial pressures and shifting defense priorities. The order was cut to 19 units, and the timeline extended to sixteen years. This adjustment, announced during a public hearing of the Foreign Relations and National Defense Committee as part of the PEC 55/2023 review, highlights the difficulty of sustaining large programs under budget limits while also supporting Embraer's export ambitions.

.../...

With deliveries extended to 2034, the program shows the balance between national budget constraints and export opportunities. The FAB secures its modernization path, while Embraer establishes the KC-390 on the global stage. How far it can expand into markets long dominated by other manufacturers remains uncertain, but the program already signals Brazil's enduring role in military aviation.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/brazil-extends-kc-390-aircraft-deliveries-to-air-force-until-2034

[Harald]

NIEUWS | Portugal tekent een addendum bij het bestaande contract voor de aanschaf van een zesde KC-390 Millennium-toestel en de toevoeging van tien nieuwe aankoopopties

https://x.com/embraer/status/1968290369520742697/photo/3

[Harald]

Lithuania Plans to Acquire Brazilian Embraer C-390 Military Transport Aircraft to Replace Spartan Fleet.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/defense-alert-lithuania-plans-to-acquire-brazilian-embraer-c390-military-transport-aircraft-to-replace-spartan-fleet

According to information published by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence on August 23, 2025, via its official X account, Lithuania has announced a formal plan to acquire the Embraer C-390 Millennium, the next-generation military transport aircraft increasingly adopted across NATO. This move reflects Lithuania's commitment to strengthening its strategic airlift capabilities amid rising operational demands in the Baltic and broader Eastern European region.

The decision places Lithuania among a growing list of NATO member states including Portugal, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and others now investing in the C-390 to replace aging fleets and enhance interoperability within the alliance. Although the Lithuanian government had signaled its intent in June at the Paris Air Show, the August announcement signals a definitive step toward contract finalization and procurement execution. Defense officials emphasized that this procurement will serve as a major milestone in upgrading the Lithuanian Armed Forces' mobility, logistics efficiency, and response capacity in crisis situations.

Lithuania plans to acquire three aircraft, with deliveries expected to begin before the end of the decade. The Embraer C-390 Millennium will directly replace the country's aging fleet of C-27J Spartan transport aircraft, marking a generational leap in capabilities. Designed to deliver superior performance at a lower operational cost, the C-390 offers significant advantages in speed, payload, and mission flexibility.

The aircraft can carry up to 26 tons of cargo, including armored vehicles, helicopters, or palletized loads. Its cruising speed of 470 knots (870 km/h) and range of up to 3,260 kilometers with a 23-ton payload provide NATO-standard reach across theaters of operation. Unlike its turboprop predecessors, the C-390's jet-powered performance ensures faster response times and reduced vulnerability during missions. It is capable of operating from semi-prepared or unpaved runways, enhancing its utility in both frontline and disaster-relief operations.

Operational versatility is one of the platform's defining traits. The C-390 Millennium can perform multiple roles including strategic and tactical airlift, medical evacuation, search and rescue, aerial refueling (in KC-390 configuration), aerial firefighting, and even intelligence and surveillance missions. Its rapid reconfiguration capability allows a seamless transition between roles, making it ideally suited for the evolving defense posture of NATO's eastern flank.

Furthermore, Lithuania's selection of the C-390 was strongly influenced by its lower maintenance footprint compared to older platforms. The aircraft uses advanced diagnostic systems and modular components that reduce downtime and life-cycle costs. This translates into higher availability rates and sustained operational tempo, both critical for a small nation facing high readiness requirements.

Beyond acquisition, the Lithuanian government is actively embedding the program into its national defense-industrial base. In recent months, Embraer signed eight Memorandums of Understanding with Lithuanian defense companies, logistics service providers, and academic institutions such as Brolis Defence, Helisota, and Kaunas University of Technology. These partnerships aim to develop maintenance hubs, specialized training programs, and engineering capabilities in-country, ensuring long-term self-reliance and skills development.

With this acquisition, Lithuania is not just modernizing its airlift capability but also sending a clear message of strategic seriousness. The C-390 Millennium enhances the nation's ability to respond to a wide spectrum of missions, from frontline logistics to humanitarian support. It also strengthens interoperability with NATO forces, especially in regional deployments and high-readiness operations.

As Baltic security dynamics continue to shift, the introduction of the C-390 marks a decisive upgrade in Lithuania's military mobility and readiness. It equips the Lithuanian Air Force with a combat-proven platform already trusted by major European partners, while laying the groundwork for long-term industrial and strategic benefits.

[Harald]

[Harald]

Braziliaanse militaire vliegtuigen voor Marokko ?

https://www.bladna.nl/braziliaanse-militaire-vliegtuigen-marokko,62978.html

Een delegatie van het Braziliaanse luchtvaartbedrijf Embraer is momenteel in Marokko. Het voornaamste doel van dit bezoek is het versnellen van de onderhandelingen over de mogelijke verkoop van KC-390 Millennium militaire transportvliegtuigen aan de Koninklijke Marokkaanse Luchtmacht.

waarschijnlijk koopt Marokko 4 a 5 stuks KC-390 toestellen

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/embraer-kc-390-offers-morocco-greater-reach-and-speed-in-sahel-operations