The Portuguese Air Force has taken a significant step in modernizing its aerial capabilities by signing an amendment with Embraer Defense & Security to expand its KC-390 Millennium fleet. This agreement includes the acquisition of a sixth aircraft and the option to purchase ten additional aircraft, aimed primarily at NATO partners. This decision builds upon a previous deal made in 2019 to replace the aging C-130 Hercules transport planes, enhancing Portugal’s operational readiness.
Currently, Lisbon operates two KC-390s, which were delivered in 2022 and 2024. Under the original contract, three more aircraft are expected to join the fleet by 2027. General João Cartaxo Alves, Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, highlighted that adding a sixth KC-390 “significantly enhances the strategic and operational capabilities” of the force. He noted that the expanded fleet would “substantially increase the availability of tactical and logistical transport,” allowing for rapid and efficient responses to a variety of missions, both military and civilian, at national and international levels.
Bosco da Costa Jr., CEO and President of Embraer Defense & Security, heralded the signing as a landmark achievement, remarking that Portugal is the first NATO operator of the KC-390. He emphasized that this positions Portugal as a benchmark for other European nations and NATO members seeking to modernize their fleets with state-of-the-art aircraft.
The KC-390 Millennium is designed to meet diverse operational needs, including troop and cargo transport, airdrops, medical evacuations, firefighting, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance. With a length of 35 meters (115 feet), the aircraft can carry up to 26,000 kilograms (57,320 pounds) of cargo or accommodate 80 personnel. It has a fuel capacity of 35,000 kilograms (77,162 pounds) and is equipped with two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, allowing it to reach speeds of over 500 knots (926 kilometers/575 miles per hour) and a maximum operational altitude of 11,000 meters (36,089 feet).
The KC-390 boasts a range of approximately 4,570 nautical miles (8,464 kilometers or 5,259 miles) and can be equipped with advanced features, including an electronic warfare suite, self-protection mechanisms, and countermeasures against airborne missiles. Since its introduction to service with Brazil in 2019, and subsequently with Portugal in 2023 and Hungary in 2024, the KC-390 has demonstrated its versatility, attracting interest from 11 air forces globally, including seven NATO member nations.
