The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) finally received a new KC-390 Millennium on Friday, the seventh in the fleet. The multirole jet, registration FAB 2859, was delivered by Embraer at the Gavião Peixoto facility.
The new delivery comes more than 15 months after the 6th was received by the FAB, on June 16, 2023. The official schedule predicted that the 7th aircraft would be delivered at the end of last year, when the C-130 Hercules would be retired.
The tactical transport aircraft will be operated by the First Squadron of the First Transport Group (1º/1º GT) at Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro.
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“Over the past five years, the C-390 Millennium has demonstrated operational qualities, reliability, and versatility, performing the most demanding missions anytime, anywhere, with the Brazilian Air Force. With the delivery of this brand-new aircraft, we are proud to contribute even more to the operational success of the FAB’s missions”, Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Five years in service
The delivery also coincides with the five-year anniversary of the operational debut of the KC-390 Millennium with the FAB itself, on September 4, 2019.
At that time, the Air Force had an order for 28 aircraft, reduced to 19 jets by the previous government.
In addition to the seven operational KC-390s, the FAB also has an eighth aircraft, registration 2852, which flies with Embraer to serve as a demonstrator at events abroad.
With the new delivery, there are 10 aircraft in service worldwide, two with the Portuguese Air Force and one with Hungary.
Embraer also has 30 C-390s to be delivered to Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and South Korea.
The company expects to announce new customers soon, however. Countries such as Sweden, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa are among those evaluating the Millennium and may reach a decision in the coming months.
