The integration is the outcome of a comprehensive flight test campaign conducted in Portugal by FAP, OGMA, and Embraer where FAP placed orders for five KC-390 jets, a flight simulator, and a support agreement in 2019.
Embraer has announced that The Portuguese Air Force’s (FAP) first KC-390 Millennium has entered into service at the Beja Air Base. The aircraft satisfies the standards established by Portugal’s National Aeronautical Authority (AAN) and is equipped with standard NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) gear out of the box.
This integration is the outcome of a comprehensive flight test campaign that was conducted in Portugal by FAP, OGMA, and Embraer. FAP placed orders for five KC-390 aircraft, a flight simulator, and a comprehensive services and support agreement in 2019. Following a ceremony on Monday, October 16, at the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, the entry into service took place.
Walter Pinto Junior, COO of Embraer Defense & Security said, “This is a wonderful time for us, as we witness the first KC-390 Millennium enter into service outside Brazil. The Portuguese Air Force is an Embraer’s strategic partner, having supported us since the beginning of the KC-390 Millenium’s internationalization. Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force will continue working together to advance our long-term projects for years to come.”
Brigadier-General João Nogueira, President of the KC-390 Program Supervision and Monitoring Mission said, “The entry into service of this aircraft is significant for the Portuguese Air Force and Portugal, as it completes the development and production of a multi-value aircraft capable of the most demanding operational scenarios. The requirements set by the Portuguese Air Force have taken this aircraft to an even higher technological and capability level.”
The military tactical transport aircraft with multiple missions provides unmatched mobility by offering an exceptional blend of low operating costs, great productivity, and operational flexibility. Compared to other military transport aircraft in its class, the C-390 can carry a larger payload (26 tons) and travel farther and faster. Operating on temporary or unpaved runways (i.e., including compacted earth, soil, and gravel), the multi-mission platform can carry out a wide range of missions, including the transport and launch of troops and cargo, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions.
The Brazilian Air Force has used the air-to-air refueling (AAR) configuration, known as the KC-390, to demonstrate its capabilities. It is authorized to refuel multiple fighter aircraft and can use the underwing pods to refuel other KC-390s. This is a special characteristic of this kind of aircraft.
Read More Stories…SR Technics Malta and easyJet renew base maintenance contract
Portugal is the program’s biggest international partner. Its involvement in the aircraft’s development and manufacturing has been acknowledged for its beneficial economic effects, including the creation of jobs, new investments, higher exports, and technological advancements. Apart from Portugal, the multi-mission platform has been chosen by the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic, and it has orders from Brazil and Hungary.
