Page 11 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021 Online Magazine

multi-mission aircraft with air-to-air refueling
(AAR) configuration, called as the KC-390.

Portugal was the first export customer for the
type, ordering five aircraft in July 2019 and its air
force crew are undergoing training on the type
in Brazil. The Hungarian government signed a [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
contract with Embraer in November 2020 for
the acquisition of two KC-390s and the first
aircraft is slated for delivery in 2024. Embraer
announced the successful conclusion of the
Hungary Critical Design Review (CDR) early in
November, which marked the start of structural
assembly of the first KC-390 Millennium being
built at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility for the
Hungarian Air Force.

Both the Portuguese and Hungarian KC-390
aircraft will be fully NATO compatible, not only
in terms of hardware, but also in terms of avi-
onics and communications configuration. The
KC-390 aircraft for the Hungarian Defence
Force will be the first in the world featuring an
Intensive Care Unit configuration, an essential
feature for performing humanitarian missions.
The aircraft are also designed to refuel the
Hungarian JAS 39 Gripens, as well as other
aircraft using the same technology.

“THE ENTRANCE OF THE EMBRAER
C-390 MILLENNIUM INTO THE
MARKET COMES AT A CRUCIAL
MOMENT WHERE AIR FORCES
AND GOVERNMENTS SEEK TO
Ready for UPDATE THEIR AIRLIFT FLEET AND

TO INCORPORATE AIRCRAFT WITH
MODERN TECHNOLOGY,” Jackson
Schneider, President & CEO, Embraer
Export Defence & Security

Export Ready
Embraer remains confident of further export
contracts for the C-390/KC-390. “The
entrance of the Embraer C-390 Millennium into
the market comes at a crucial moment where
EMBRAER IS MOVING AHEAD TO DELIVER ON air forces and governments seek to update
EXPORT ORDERS FOR THE KC-390 their airlift fleet and to incorporate aircraft
with modern technology,” Jackson Schneider,
President & CEO, Embraer Defence & Security
told ADT via email. “Especially during the Covid-
Atul Chandra 19 pandemic, many governments have faced
budget constraints. Therefore, they are look-
Embraer of Brazil is now well advanced on work to deliver on ing for aircraft that can perform multiple roles
export orders for its KC-390 Millennium military transport from the such as transport operations, maritime patrol,
Hungarian Defence Force and the Portuguese Armed Forces. Both search & rescue, special missions and more, all
Hungary and Portugal have contracted for the C-390 Millennium using the same aircraft. This is a key capability

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY November / December 2021 | 11