C-390 Millennium Project for South Korea Advances

Our Bureau - : Oct 19, 2025 - : 5:34 pm

Embraer Defense & Security is progressing with the South Korean C-390 programme with additional details expected at the ongoing airshow. The Brazilian airframer is also showcasing other solutions from its defence and security portfolio at Seoul. "Our presence at ADEX is a reflection of our strong commitment to Korea’s defense industry,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. "The C-390 aircraft for South Korea are advancing as planned and we value the close cooperation we have with DAPA, ROKAF and our Korean suppliers on this project."

Embraer and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency KOTRA had held a week-long roadshow, which took place in September in Sacheon and Busan. The roadshow included visits and seminars aimed at identifying areas of further collaboration between Embraer and Korean companies. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had selected Embraer’s C-390 Millennium in 2023 for its Large Transport Aircraft (LTA-II) public tender. The C-390 is the first instance of a Brazilian aircraft type entering service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). South Korea’s Flight Inspection Center also operates the Embraer Praetor 600 since 2024.

The C-390 Millennium aircraft will be specially configured to meet ROKAF’s requirements, along with comprehensive services and support, including training, ground support equipment, and spare parts. Embraer is also providing a robust industrial cooperation programme to South Korea with significant C-390 components to be manufactured in country by local aerospace partners ASTG, EMK, and Kencoa Aerospace. Embraer has partnered with Korean companies as part of its global supply chain and since the launch of its E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft program in 2013.

The C-390 Millennium has been a critical export success for Embraer. In addition to South Korea, the type has been selected by ten other Air Forces around the world. The Portuguese Air Force, an existing operator of the C-390, recently signed for the acquisition of a sixth C-390 Millennium aircraft and the inclusion of ten new purchase options for potential acquisitions by future partner nations.

The C-390 entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024 Since then, the C-390 Millennium has proven its capability, reliability and performance and the current fleet in operation has demonstrated a mission completion rate of more than 99%, highlighting exceptional productivity in its category.

The C-390 Millennium can not only carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft, it also flies faster (470 knots) and farther. It is capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue (SAR), firefighting and humanitarian missions, and operating on temporary or unpaved runways, such as packed earth, soil and gravel. The C-390 can also configured as an air-to-air tanker, with the designation KC-390. It can undertake aerial refueling both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.

Embraer / C-390-millennium / Rokaf / Seoul-adex-2025 / Dapa /