The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) received the third unit of the new military transport jet KC-390 on June 27. The aircraft was sent by Embraer from its unit in Gavião Peixo to the air base of Anapólis where it joined the first two models delivered.
Developed at the request of the FAB, the new aircraft is replacing the turboprop C-130 Hercules in functions of tactical transport, air refueling, search and rescue, medical evacuation, among others.
Although it is still in the evaluation phase, the KC-390 is already carrying out missions for the Air Force due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, the two planes have made flights to deliver medical supplies throughout Brazil.
“Receiving the third KC-390 Millennium aircraft is a matter of great satisfaction for the Air Force Command, because it will be supporting the missions already underway by the other two aircraft,” said the Brazilian Air Force Commander, Lieutenant-Brigadier Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez.
“We are proud to see the C-390 Millennium in service and to witness the customer’s satisfaction with the proven execution of the combination of requirements, as defined by FAB, and demonstrated by the aircraft, as developed by Embraer,” said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Cutting-edge technology
The C-390 Millennium, as it is officially called by Embraer, is an aircraft that contrasts with many military transport planes starting with the use of V2500 turbofan engines, similar to those used in commercial aircraft.
For this reason, the aircraft is faster than turboprops and can reach speeds of up to 470 knots (870 km/h) while cruising. The C-390 can carry up to 26 tonnes of payload and fly 2,820 km without refueling.
The FAB ordered a total of 28 KC-390s from Embraer that should be delivered by 2024. In addition to Brazil, Portugal became a customer of the jet when ordering five planes in 2019.
