Embraer has secured a new defence contract with the Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (FAC) for the supply of two KC-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to modernise its strategic airlift and aerial refuelling capabilities.
The agreement, announced on August 4, also includes mission equipment, an integrated services and support package, and a comprehensive industrial offset programme designed to meet Colombia’s regulatory requirements. The acquisition makes Colombia the 13th nation worldwide to select the KC-390 Millennium and the first Latin American country outside Brazil to operate the aircraft.
The new fleet will provide the Colombian Air Force with enhanced operational flexibility across a broad range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, medical evacuation, airdrop operations and air-to-air refuelling. The aircraft will also be fully integrated to operate alongside Colombia’s recently acquired Gripen fighter aircraft, strengthening interoperability and overall mission readiness.
“We are honored by the FAC’s decision to select the KC-390 Millennium. This choice reinforces a partnership that spans more than 35 years, dating back to the FAC’s acquisition of its first Embraer aircraft, an EMB-312 Tucano, followed by the A-29 Super Tucano. The KC-390 will significantly expand and strengthen Colombia’s airlift and aerial refueling capabilities, setting a new standard for operational excellence,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security.
Beyond enhancing operational capability, the contract places significant emphasis on long-term fleet sustainment. The integrated services and support package will provide maintenance, technical assistance and logistics support throughout the aircraft’s operational life, enabling higher fleet availability and mission readiness. Such lifecycle support has become an increasingly important element of modern military procurement, ensuring operators can maximise aircraft utilisation while reducing long-term operating costs.
Designed as a next-generation military transport platform, the KC-390 Millennium can carry payloads of up to 26 tonnes, cruise at speeds of 470 knots, and operate from both paved and unprepared airfields. The aircraft is capable of performing multiple mission profiles, including search and rescue, medical evacuation, humanitarian relief, firefighting and cargo transport. Equipped with a rapid-installation air-to-air refuelling system, it can function both as a tanker and as a receiver, providing additional operational flexibility.
The KC-390 programme continues to gain international momentum, with the aircraft already selected by the air forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Slovakia and Lithuania. Colombia’s decision further strengthens Embraer’s position in the global defence transport aircraft market as air forces increasingly seek multi-role platforms that combine operational capability with lower lifecycle costs and comprehensive aftermarket support.
