Embraer has high hopes for further C-390/KC-390 Millennium sales in the Asia-Pacific region. Worldwide, the twin-jet transport aircraft has achieved 50 firm sales or selections, plus 19 options, so far.
Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, said there is currently an addressable market of 184 transport aircraft in Asia-Pacific, though he declined to say what share of this figure he hopes to scoop up with the Millennium. There are many transport aircraft around 50 years old that will need to be replaced soon.
One potential customer is India, with Embraer currently competing in Delhi’s Medium Transport Aircraft competition that is seeking anywhere from 40-80 aircraft.
Da Costa Junior made two announcements regarding the C-390 on 3 February, the opening day of Singapore Airshow 2026. The first was that the initial aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) had reached the final stage of its assembly process last December. It will now conduct flight trials, prior to integration of equipment specific to the ROKAF.
Seoul selected the C-390 under its Large Transport Aircraft II programme in late 2023. The platform can carry payloads of 26 tonnes and fly at speeds of 470kt.
The first aircraft is due to be handed over to the ROKAF later this year. Embraer has never officially disclosed how many C-390s South Korea bought, but it is believed to be three.
Da Costa Junior noted: “The progress of the Republic of Korea’s first C-390 Millennium demonstrates both the efficiency and maturity of our production line and the strength of our partnership with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, ROKAF and our Korean suppliers.”
In fact, Embraer is making every effort to reduce production times on its assembly lines. The CEO said in a press conference in Singapore that it has successfully trimmed production time by 33%. “Our supply chain is 100% engaging to increase the rates in our production line,” he said.
The company plans to deliver six Millennium aircraft this year, versus the three it handed over in 2025. By 2030, it hopes to be producing ten C-390s per annum.
On the same occasion, Embraer officially announced that Uzbekistan is a customer of the C-390 too. Previously, Embraer had only listed “an undisclosed customer” in a 27 December 2024 announcement. Uzbekistan has acquired two aircraft.
The KC-390 tanker version currently refuels aircraft via a hose-and-drogue system, but da Costa Junior hinted that an announcement is imminent about the ability to add boom refuelling to the KC-390.
The global C-390 fleet recently reached a cumulative 20,000 flight hours, with some air forces flying individual aircraft more than 1,000 hours annually. The C-390 has been selected by Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden and Uzbekistan.
Embraer also manufactures the A-29 Super Tucano turboprop, and da Costa Junior confirmed that the Philippines has sealed a contract for a second batch of six aircraft. Worldwide, more than 300 Super Tucanos have been ordered to date, while eight were delivered to customers last year.
Embraer sees an addressable market for 90 such aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region. The Brazilian company is also adding a counter-unmanned aerial system mission to the Super Tucano’s capabilities.
by Gordon Arthur
