Greece Eyes Embraer C-390 as C-130 Replacement

Greece is moving forward with plans to renew its tactical airlift fleet, and the Embraer C-390 Millennium has emerged as a leading candidate. The aircraft is being considered as a replacement for the aging Lockheed C-130 Hercules currently in service with the Hellenic Air Force.

The need is pressing. Greece operates a fleet of C-130H aircraft that has suffered from low availability for years, with only a small number of airframes fully operational at any given time. This has created a clear capability gap in airlift, pushing Athens to look for a modern and more reliable solution.

Within this context, the C-390 has been included in Greece’s long-term defence planning. Initial discussions point to a small acquisition—around three aircraft—with the possibility of expansion later. There is no contract yet, but the program is active and under evaluation.

The Brazilian aircraft brings a different profile compared to traditional options. It offers higher speed, modern systems and competitive operating costs, positioning itself as a strong alternative to legacy platforms. It also reflects a broader shift, as several European operators have already selected the C-390 to replace older transport fleets.

The main competitor remains the latest version of the Hercules, but the balance is no longer one-sided. The C-390 is gaining ground as a viable NATO-compatible transport, particularly for countries looking to rebuild capacity quickly without committing to long and expensive upgrade cycles.

For Greece, the decision is less about ambition and more about necessity. The current fleet can no longer guarantee consistent availability, and delays only increase the operational risk.

🇨🇴 Colombia moves toward C-390 acquisition following presidential directive

 

Colombia has taken a step toward acquiring the Embraer C-390 Millennium following a directive from President Gustavo Petro. According to reports, the decision sets in motion the process to replace part of the country’s ageing transport fleet.

The Fuerza Aérea Colombiana has long relied on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, but fleet availability has become an increasing concern. A recent accident involving a Hercules has added further pressure to accelerate a replacement.

At this stage, the directive should be understood as a political decision rather than a completed acquisition. No contract has been announced and key details, including the number of aircraft and delivery timeline, remain undefined.

The C-390 has emerged as the leading candidate due to its payload, modern systems and regional presence. The next step will be the formalisation of the procurement process, which will determine whether the current direction translates into a confirmed order.

Poland Explores Super Tucano and KC-390:

Recent high-level visits by senior Polish Air Force officials to Brazil have confirmed that Warsaw is actively evaluating the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano and the KC-390 Millennium, marking a significant evolution in Poland’s airpower doctrine. Rather than focusing exclusively on high-end combat platforms, Poland is increasingly seeking cost-effective, mission-optimised solutions to address the changing character of aerial threats in Europe.

The evaluation reflects Poland’s recognition that modern air warfare is no longer defined solely by fighter-to-fighter combat. The rapid proliferation of low-cost long-range drones, cruise missile threats, and persistent ISR challenges has created a growing demand for platforms capable of continuous surveillance, economical interception, and prolonged presence. In this context, the Super Tucano is being studied not as a counter-insurgency aircraft, but as a low-cost aerial policing and drone interception platform, capable of relieving pressure on Poland’s high-value fighter fleet.

Poland currently relies on F-16C/Ds, newly introduced FA-50 light fighters, and soon F-35A stealth aircraft to provide air defence and strike capabilities. However, employing such high-end assets against slow, low-cost UAVs is economically inefficient and operationally suboptimal. The Super Tucano offers a compelling alternative, combining long endurance, modern electro-optical sensors, low operating costs, and sufficient speed and firepower to counter asymmetric airborne threats while preserving advanced fighters for high-intensity contingencies.

This doctrinal shift mirrors a broader European reassessment of force structure priorities, already visible in Portugal’s operational use of the A-29 for maritime patrol and air policing missions. For Poland, the platform could provide persistent border surveillance, low-cost interception capability, and training synergies, particularly in an operational environment shaped by the war in Ukraine and the persistent risk of spillover incidents involving drones and loitering munitions.

Parallel to the Super Tucano evaluation, Poland is also conducting a comprehensive assessment of the KC-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft, which is emerging as a serious contender for future Polish airlift requirements. With Poland’s C-130E/H Hercules fleet aging and facing growing maintenance challenges, the KC-390 offers a modern, jet-powered alternative capable of delivering significantly improved speed, payload, and operational flexibility.

The KC-390’s increasing adoption across Europe, including by Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic, has further strengthened its appeal. For Warsaw, interoperability within NATO, rapid reinforcement capability, and strategic mobility across Eastern Europe represent critical operational requirements, all of which align closely with the KC-390’s performance envelope. Reports suggest that up to ten aircraft are under consideration, though no final procurement timeline has yet been announced.

Strategically, Poland’s twin-track evaluation reflects a broader recalibration of European airpower concepts. Instead of concentrating resources exclusively on elite fighter platforms, Warsaw is increasingly investing in a balanced force structure, combining high-end combat aircraft with affordable, high-availability platforms tailored to emerging threat profiles. This layered approach enhances resilience, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in prolonged crisis scenarios.

In this sense, Poland’s interest in both the Super Tucano and KC-390 illustrates a maturing operational doctrine shaped by real-world conflict, logistical realism, and the economic constraints of sustained high-readiness operations. It also underscores a wider European trend toward multi-tier airpower architectures, where each platform is optimized for specific mission sets rather than stretched across all roles.

Poland’s exploration of the A-29 Super Tucano and KC-390 Millennium reflects a pragmatic and strategically sound adaptation to modern air warfare realities, prioritizing efficiency, persistence, and operational flexibility alongside traditional combat power. Rather than diluting Poland’s air combat capability, this approach strengthens overall force resilience, ensuring that high-end fighters remain available for the missions that truly require them.

Saudi Arabia Plans Acquisition of 33 C-390 Millennium Aircraft to Replace Aging C-130 Hercules Fleet

In a milestone that signals a new chapter in bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Brazil in defense and security, Saudi Arabia's SAMI Investment Fund has initiated negotiations to acquire up to 33 Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. This ambitious project will also encompass establishing comprehensive personnel training and maintenance capacity for Embraer aircraft throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The agreement, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SAMI, Saudi Arabia's defense and security enterprise, and Embraer, the Brazilian aviation giant, aims to expand both companies' operational presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The primary focus will be to promote the capabilities of the C-390 Millennium aircraft and provide support to the kingdom's Ministry of Defense.

A key aspect of the agreement is the establishment of comprehensive maintenance capacity for Embraer aircraft within the Kingdom. This not only ensures the optimal performance of the C-390 Millennium fleet but also supports Saudi Arabia's endeavors towards defense self-sufficiency, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.

Engineer Walid A. Abukhaled, CEO of SAMI, emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating: "It is another significant step in SAMI's efforts to support Saudi Vision 2030 in strengthening the Kingdom's defense self-sufficiency and contributing to localizing 50% of defense spending in the Kingdom by 2030."

Moreover, the agreement entails exploring the possibility of establishing a regional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) center, as well as an exclusive Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Embraer C-390 Millennium. This initiative not only solidifies Embraer's presence in the region but also serves as a platform for integrating specific mission systems for Saudi aircraft and potential clients in the region.

The strategic timing of this agreement is notable as Saudi Arabia assesses the replacement of its older fleet of 33 C-130H Hercules aircraft, with the Embraer C-390 Millennium emerging as a potential candidate for this replacement. This step could mark a significant milestone for the C-390 program, which has been gaining momentum in the international market.

The collaboration between SAMI and Embraer not only strengthens ties between Saudi Arabia and Brazil in the aerospace industry but also aims to bolster Saudi Arabia's self-reliance and defensive capability in line with its long-term strategic objectives.

Czech Republic in talks to buy C-390 Millenium transport aircraft

The Czech Defence Ministry made an announcement on Tuesday that the government is entering negotiations to purchase an undisclosed number of Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft for the nation's military.

According to the ministry, the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic lack a medium- and long-range aircraft capable of flights lasting at least 12 hours, with the ability to take off and land on unpaved runways.

Aero Vodochody, a Czech company, supplies various components to Brazil's Embraer for the production of the C-390 aircraft. The exact value of the planned acquisition remains undisclosed at this time.

If Prague decides to award the order to Embraer, this would mark another significant contract for the manufacturer in the region. Austria recently made a similar decision, opting to purchase four C-390s for its armed forces as a replacement for its aging C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft. Austria's Defence Ministry revealed plans to spend between €130 million and €150 million (U.S. $137 million to U.S. $158 million) per plane in this effort.

Related: 

FIRST KC-390 FOR PORTUGUESE AIR FORCE ARRIVES IN BEJA AB

First flight of first KC-390 for the Hungarian Air Force scheduled for 2023

KC-390 delivery to Brazil delayed a few months

FIRST KC-390 FOR PORTUGUESE AIR FORCE ARRIVES IN BEJA AB

The first Embraer KC-390, PT-ZDK (c/n 390000011), for the Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force) has arrived today, 16 October 2022 at its new homebase Beja (BA 111).

It departed yesterday from Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil, en route to Portugal. On the last leg of its flight the new Embraer was escorted by two General Dynamics F-16s. It was delivered under its test registration PT-ZDK, but will ultimately receive the Portuguese serial 26901.

After touching Portuguese soil, the KC-390 will undergo a phase of integration of NATO equipment and certified by the National Aeronautical Authority. It is recalled that Portugal ordered five KC-390 Millennium aircraft and a simulator in 2019, and the first Portuguese crew successfully completed the qualification course in November 2021.

scramble 

First flight of first KC-390 for the Hungarian Air Force scheduled for 2023

Embraer continues to advance in the production of the first KC-390 Millennium aircraft for the Hungarian Defence Forces. In November 2020, the Hungarian government signed a contract with Embraer for the acquisition of two KC-390 aircra. Currently, Embraer is assembling the semi-wings on the aircraft's fuselage, with both structures already painted in the customer's colors.

"The production of the aircraft is significantly ahead of what was stipulated in the contract compared to the original plans, progressing better than planned", said Colonel László Nagy, Head of Air Force Systems Development Branch.

Flight tests of the first aircraft will begin in the second half of 2023, with delivery taking place in the second quarter of 2024. The second unit of the KC-390 for Hungary is scheduled to begin production in December 2022, thus maintaining the original schedule, and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2024.

The KC-390 for the Hungarian Defence Forces will be the first in the world with the Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, for performing humanitarian missions. Furthermore, the KC-390 probe and drogue refueling system means the aircraft can refuel the Hungarian JAS 39 Gripen as well as other aircraft that use the same technology.

embraer 

KC-390 delivery to Brazil delayed a few months

Embraer plans to deliver its first KC-390 transport to the Brazilian air force in the next few months, after a further slight delay from its original plan to hand over the aircraft at the end of 2018.
The twin-turbofan military transport the company plans to deliver to Brazil was at the show on 16 June, conducting a demo flight for journalists and standing on static display.
Embraer's delivery delay is the result of an incident involving one of two KC-390 prototypes that overran its runway during a test in Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil in 2018. To complete its flight testing regime, the airframer decided to reassign its third production aircraft, which was intended to be the initial example delivered to the Brazilian air force. In July 2018, Embraer said it believed the incident would cause a six-month delay, although it is now likely to take a few months longer.
The firm says aircraft number nine is now in production. The company expects to produce military transports at a pace of 12 per year, but says with a third shift and some changes to its supply chain a higher production rate is possible. The Brazilian air force has ordered 28 examples of the aircraft.
flightglobal

First Flight of the Series Production Embraer KC-390

First Embraer KC-390 achieved another important milestone today with the completion of the maiden flight of the first series production multi-mission medium airlift KC-390. As agreed with the Brazilian Air Force, the aircraft will now join the flight test campaign, in which more than 1,900 flight hours have already been logged. Civil certification of the basic aircraft will be granted by Brazilian aviation authority ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) and is expected to be achieved very soon.
embraer

KC-390 Transport Aircraft delivery to Brazil delayed until 2019

Embraer now plans to complete flight testing and deliver the first production version of the KC-390 to the Brazilian air force up to six months late in the first half of 2019.
The nine-year-old development programme for the twin-engined tanker-transport had been on track until an “operational issue” caused the first of two flight test aircraft to overrun a runway in Brazil, leading to heavy damage to the landing gear and fuselage.
Embraer had planned to deliver the third KC-390 to the Brazilian air force by the end of the year, but that aircraft will now be diverted to help the company complete the flight test campaign in the absence of the first prototype.
The fourth KC-390 to roll-off Embraer’s assembly line will now be the first of 28 aircraft delivered to the Brazilian air force.
flightgloba

Portugal Near to Finalize Contract For Five Embraer KC-390 Transport Aircraft

Embraer is on the verge of completing a deal with Portugal confirming the country as the first export customer for the KC-390 tanker transport.
“We are discussing with the government the final contract,” the Brazilian airframer’s chief executive Paulo Cesar Silva said at a pre-Farnborough air show media briefing in Lisbon on 26 June.
It comes just over a year after Portugal opened negotiations to buy five KC-390s, with an option for a sixth, with deliveries starting in 2021.
Four nations – other than Brazil – originally committed to the military aircraft, which flew for the first time in 2015. However, progress with Argentina, the Czech Republic and Chile appears to have stalled.
Embraer is exhibiting the KC-390 at this year's Farnborough air show, as well as the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford that immediately precedes it.
flightglobal

Portugal envisages acquisition of KC-390 aircraft

The Portuguese Ministry of National Defence (MoND) currently considers the Embraer KC-390 multipurpose transport aircraft as an adequate solution to progressively replace the country's Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules aircraft, it told Jane's on 9 March.
No contract has yet been placed, but up to six aircraft are expected to be purchased. Portugal made an information request to Embraer last October and is currently analysing the information provided, the MoND told Jane's .
The aircraft would conduct troop and cargo transport, firefighting, and air-to-air refuelling missions in the Portuguese Air Force service, the MoND said.
Several Portuguese companies, including OGMA-Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal (partially owned by Embraer), Embraer Metálicas, Embraer Compósitos, and CEiiA, are involved with the KC-390 programme, which Jane's understands favours a potential buy of the type.
janes

KC-390 resumes flight tests

The flight on 26 October at Embraer’s test centre in Gaviao Pexioto, Brazil, ends an eight-month hiatus caused by a fiscal crisis in Brasilia. As the Real currency has devalued by 50% since the beginning of the year, the government had slowed payments to Embraer on a host of projects, but none bigger than the KC-390.
Last July, Embraer announced signing an agreement with the Brazilian air force that extended the KC-390 development schedule by a year, with entry into service beginning in 2018.
The timing of the Brazilian economic crisis posed a severe test for the KC-390 programme. Embraer completed a 1.5h first flight in Gaviao Peixoto on 3 February, but never flew again until 26 October. In the interim, Embraer’s team moved forward with ground vibration testing, Curado says.
Embraer also has kicked off development of the F-39 Gripen fighter for the Brazilian air force with prime contractor Saab.
flightglobal

Embraer close to resuming KC-390 flight tests

Embraer will in the next two months resume test flights of its developmental KC-390 transport and tanker, following a lengthy pause since its first – and only – sortie on 3 February.
This "lay-up period", was to allow the installation of all the instrumentation required for certification trials.
Military approval is scheduled to be attained late in 2016, with first delivery to the Brazilian air force following that same year or in early 2017.
Embraer will require around 2,000h of flight tests using two prototypes of the International Aero Engines V2500-powered aircraft to achieve certification.
The second flight-test article is due to roll out in September or October this year.
The only firm order for the twinjet has come from Brazil, which has committed to 28 examples. However, Embraer also holds letters of intent from five other nations, covering 32 aircraft.
Embraer is positive that additional deals will be signed off in the coming months.
flightglobal

Sweden will replace C-130H with either KC-390 or A400M

The Swedish air force is likely to field a replacement for its aged Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports at some point during the next decade, with potential candidates including the Embraer KC-390 and Airbus A400M.
Sweden Air Force will mark the 50th anniversary of its introduction of the Hercules, with its active fleet now including five transports and one KC-130H tanker. Two other aircraft have already been retired and are in storage in the UK, and the service could in time decide to reduce its operational fleet to only four examples.
Sweden’s recently published defence bill for the 2016-2020 period identifies the need to address the C-130H replacement issue only post-2021. The nation’s air force has already shown interest in Embraer’s developmental KC-390 transport and tanker. Sweden could also investigate the potential acquisition of the A400M. Several of the latter model are likely to become available early next decade, as Germany and Spain have said they will not be able to fully field their on-order fleets.
flightglobal

Embraer eyeing slowdown of KC-390 program if Brazil cannot pay

Embraer has to consider slowing down development of the KC-390 military cargo jet if the Brazilian Air Force, which is funding the program, does not catch up on late payments, Chief Executive Officer said on a Thursday conference call.
The Brazilian government has fallen behind on around $300 million in payments on defense contracts due to efforts to shore up the federal budget
reuters

SAAF looking at C-130, KC-390, C-295 and C-27J for airlift

South Africa National Defence Force has its eyes on two possible types to replace its ageing C-130BZ fleet.
SAAF is considering the C-130 or the KC-390 and the C-27J or C-295 to replace the C-47TP and probably also the C-212. .
defenceweb

Embraer KC-390 military transport makes first flight

Embraer successfully performed the first flight of the new military transport and aerial refueling jet, the KC-390 with a flight of 1 hour and 25 minutes, conducting an evaluation of flying qualities and performance.
The KC-390 will be the backbone of transport aviation for the Brazilian Air Force, with a fleet of 28 aircraft.
The KC-390 is a joint project of the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer to develop and produce a tactical military transport and air-to-air refueling plane.
Besides the order from the Brazilian Air Force, there are current purchase intentions from other countries, for a total of 32 additional aircraft.
embraer

Portugal approves F-16, Hercules Upgrade

Portugal approved its military programming law for the next 12 years on 22 January, although the plan to complete this in 2026 will be reviewed every four years
The air force's 30 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fighters will receive further software upgrades and its six C-130H Hercules transport aircraft will be modernised to extend the type's service life until 2030. These transports will be eventually replaced by Embraer KC-390s after Portugal firmed up a letter of intent with Brazil for six aircraft in September 2010.
These measures are leading a deep structural and equipment modernisation plan for Portugal and come after the country exited a three-year EU-IMF economic adjustment programme in June 2014.
janes

Embraer KC-390 will fly in January

Embraer has scheduled the first flight of the KC-390 aerial refueling tanker for early January.
The tanker and transport aircraft was originally scheduled to fly before the end of the year, but production updates from Embraer began to raise doubts in late summer.
flightglobal