Embraer KC-390
Summary
| Category | Transport aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| First flight | 3 February 2015 |
| Year of introduction | 2019 |
| Number produced | 9 units |
Description
Work on the Embraer C-390 Millennium began in the mid-2000s with studies based on a derivative of the Embraer E190 jetliner, featuring turbofan jet engines instead of turboprops. The Brazilian government and Air Force supported the venture, with the government investing R$800 million (US$440M) in its development in May 2008, followed by a R$1.5 billion contract in April 2009 for two prototypes. The aircraft was initially designated C-390, then KC-390 in 2011. Partnerships were established with FAdeA, ENAER, OGMA, and Boeing, though the Boeing joint venture fell apart within six months. Major subcontractors included Aero Vodochody, BAE Systems, and Rockwell Collins. The first prototype's maiden flight took place on 3 February 2015. The first production aircraft was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force on 4 September 2019. In November 2019, the aircraft was officially named C-390 Millennium for the global market.
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a mid-sized utility transport aircraft engineered for operational flexibility. Its design allows for rapid reconfiguration, both internally and externally, to suit diverse mission requirements, a principle integrated from the initial aircraft concept. Advanced technology and mission software assist the crew, with the cockpit featuring head-up displays for an enhanced vision system supported by four cameras and Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion commercial avionics. The aircraft is powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines mounted forward on a high wing that incorporates anhedral, slats, and high-lift devices capable of deflecting up to 40°. The landing gear uses low-pressure tires to operate on soft, unpaved ground or damaged runways. Equipped with fully fly-by-wire flight controls and active sidesticks, the C-390 reduces crew workload and permits load factors up to 3g, while an autothrottle system is also installed. Navigation systems, largely from Thales Group, include an Inertial Navigation System (INS), GPS, and a Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) transponder. For self-defense, the aircraft can be fitted with RWR (Radar Warning Receiver), chaff and flare dispensers, and an Elbit Systems directional infrared countermeasures suite. It typically features a SELEX Galileo Gabbiano tactical radar. The C-390 Millennium is equipped with three hardpoints for external stores, typically used to carry a Rafael Litening II targeting pod, an infrared pod, and/or a Cobham 900E in-flight refueling pod. The aircraft can refuel other aircraft in flight through two wing-mounted probe and drogue pods from Cobham plc, delivering fuel at up to 1,500 liters per minute from a total fuel capacity of 35 tons, within a speed range of 120 to 300 knots and altitudes from 2,000 to 32,000 feet.
In 2014, the Brazilian government ordered 28 C-390s, with the intention of progressively replacing the Brazilian Air Force's existing cargo aircraft fleet, including its C-130s. The first C-390 is operated from Anápolis Air Force Base by the 1st Troop Transportation Group (1º GTT) Zeus and in Rio de Janeiro by the 1st/1st GT Gordo. The C-390 has seen extensive use in humanitarian aid and disaster relief, including airlifting supplies and evacuating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Manaus, Brazil, delivering aid to Beirut following the 2020 explosion, responding to the Haiti earthquake in 2021, and assisting in the evacuation of Brazilian nationals and delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion. Internationally, the KC-390 has conducted joint flights with US Air Force C-17 and C-130 airlifters. The Portuguese Air Force also received its first C-390 in October 2022, utilizing it for missions such as transporting personnel and cargo to the Canary Islands and retrieving Black Hawk helicopters from the United States.
Main Variants:
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C-390: This is the standard model designed for versatile operations, including transport, search and rescue (SAR), and aerial firefighting.
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KC-390: This variant is specifically configured for aerial refueling, serving as a tanker aircraft primarily developed for the Brazilian Air Force.
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C-390 IVR: An anti-submarine and maritime patrol variant announced in December 2024 and under study for joint development between Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force to replace the aging Brazilian Lockheed P-3 Orion fleet.
Technical specifications
| Version: KC-390 | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 980 km/h (609 mph) |
| Wingspan | 35.1 m (115.0 ft) |
| Height | 10.3 m (33.7 ft) |
| Length | 33.9 m (111.3 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 11000 m (36089 ft) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 72000 kg (158733 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × turbojets IAE V2500-E5 delivering 13154 kgp |
