The Portuguese Air Force is not expected to receive Embraer’s first KC-390 Millennium military transport jet until early 2023, but the program has already achieved some significant milestones.
Since September, a team composed of four Portuguese crew has been in Brazil to accompany the assembly of the first aircraft and also carry out the first training flights.
On September 21, the Portuguese military accompanied the first power-up of the KC-390 in Gavião Peixoto, an Embraer plant that produces the airlifter.
The aircraft already partially displays the painting of the Portuguese Air Force, in shades of dark grey, and should be finished soon to start the evaluation flight campaign.
Flights on the KC-390
The most recent milestone of the Portuguese team occurred on the October 8, when the crew performed a flight aboard the twin-engine jet, from the Anápolis Air Base, where Wing 2, which operates the Millennium in the Brazilian Air Force, is headquartered.
Portugal was the second customer of the KC-390 after announcing an order for five planes in 2019. The military cargo jets will be delivered at a rate of one plane per year until 2027.
The aerospace industry contributes to the program, producing components in the country through OGMA, a division of Embraer itself.
