LAGOS – Embraer is celebrating 10 years of the primary flight of the KC-390 Millennium, the next-generation multi-mission tactical transport plane.
The maiden flight, which passed off in Gavião Peixoto on February 3, 2015, lasted one hour and 25 minutes.
It offered the crew with an analysis of the flight traits and spectacular efficiency of the KC-390 Millennium.
Since then, this fly-by-wire-equipped plane has redefined the requirements of army airlift, performing a variety of missions in probably the most demanding circumstances, whereas reaching exceptional success in world protection markets, Embraer stated in a press release.
In October 2018, the KC-390 Millennium achieved two further important milestones: the primary flight of the primary series-produced plane and the receipt of the Kind Certificates from the Nationwide Civil Aviation Company (ANAC).
This certification marked a vital milestone in direction of reaching army certification and demonstrated the plane’s superior technological stage.
“In only one decade, the KC-390 has confirmed to be an unbeatable mixture of versatility, robustness and suppleness, steadily gaining its place out there and changing into the best alternative for nations on the lookout for a multi-mission tactical army transport.
“This plane combines the very best of aerospace know-how with the spirit of Embraer, devoted to excellence and efficiency, enabling our prospects to execute their missions anytime, anyplace,” says Bosco da Costa Junior, President of Embraer of Protection & Safety.
Between August and September 2019, the signing of the contract with Portugal for the acquisition of 5 KC-390 multi-mission plane and the supply of the primary unit to the Brazilian Air Power marked further necessary chapters within the KC-390 Millennium’s success story.
In 2020, one of the prestigious aviation magazines, Aviation Week, awarded the KC-390 Millennium the Grand Laureate within the Protection class and the Laureate Awards for “Finest New Product” within the Protection class.
Some days later, Hungary joined the ranks of nations that chosen the KC-390 Millennium to reinforce their protection capabilities with Embraer’s state-of-the-art plane.
“The acquisition of the KC-390 by Portugal and Hungary, two main NATO members, has enabled the KC-390 Millennium to make important strides in Europe, showcasing the excellent flexibility, operational effectivity, and low working prices of this exceptional plane,” stated Bosco da Costa Junior.
In 2022, the Netherlands introduced its alternative for the Millennium.
In 2023, Austria, the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea additionally chosen the KC-390, confirming the success of this game-changer platform.
In 2024, Sweden, Slovakia and an Undisclosed Buyer have additionally opted for the KC-390.
Since coming into operation with the Brazilian Air Power in 2019, the Portuguese Air Power in 2023, and, most not too long ago the Hungarian Air Power in 2024, the KC-390 has confirmed its functionality, reliability, and efficiency.
The present fleet of 10 operational plane – seven with the Brazilian Air Power, two with the Portuguese Air Power and one with the Hungarian Air Power – has amassed over 16,300 flight hours, with a mission functionality price of 93 per cent and mission completion charges above 99 per cent, demonstrating distinctive productiveness within the class.
The KC-390 can carry extra payload (26 tons) in comparison with different medium-sized army transport plane and flies quicker (470 knots) and farther, being able to performing a variety of missions, corresponding to transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, air-to-air refueling each as a tanker and a receiver, firefighting and humanitarian missions, working on short-term or unpaved runways, corresponding to packed earth, soil and gravel.
