On June 26, Embraer announced the delivery of the second C-390 "Millennium" medium transport aircraft to the Portuguese Air Force, which took place at the aviation plant in Gavi-en-Pescito, in the state of São Paulo.
"The second delivery of the C-390 transport aircraft to the Portuguese Air Force is another step in the internationalization process, increasing the recognition of the international market, especially in NATO countries," said Bosco da Costa Junio, President and CEO of Embraer Defence & Security. The Portuguese Air Force is a long-term partner of Embraer and has given us strategic support since the beginning of the project, and we will work together to continue to develop the partnership in the coming years".
"With the delivery of the second C-390 transport aircraft, we will accelerate the integration of this capability into the Portuguese Air Force, increasing the number of missions we are able to carry out and training more crews and technicians for the future," said the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, Admiral João Cataso Alves. Given the results already achieved by the 1st C-390 transport aircraft, it is clear that with our 2nd transport aircraft, the Portuguese C-390 will be flying around the world, proving its versatility and usability and providing additional mission value to Portugal, its partners as well as the alliance".
In September 2010, while the C-390 medium transport aircraft was still in the development phase, the Portuguese Ministry of Defence signed a letter of intent with Embraer. In July 2017, the Portuguese Ministry of Defense announced that it would purchase five C-390 medium transport aircraft. On 11 July 2019, the Portuguese Ministry of Defence and Embraer formally signed a procurement contract worth 827 million euros for the purchase of five C-390 medium transport aircraft, in addition to a flight simulator for training and 12 years of logistical support, with the delivery period stipulated in the contract between 2023 and 2027.
In February 2023, the first C-390 medium transport aircraft arrived in Portugal and officially entered service with the Portuguese Air Force in October of the same year, and the C-390 medium transport aircraft has flown 500 hours so far. The five C-390 medium transport aircraft ordered will replace the five C-130H Hercules transport aircraft in service with the No. 6 Bison Squadron at Montijo Air Base, Setúbal District, which was formed in 1977 to carry out transport and search and rescue missions.
The C-390 Millennium medium transport aircraft has a total length of 33.5 meters, a wingspan of 33.9 meters, and a height of 11.4 meters. The maximum take-off weight is 87 tons, the maximum payload is 26 tons. Powered by 2 IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines, each engine has a maximum thrust of 139.4 kN, a cruising speed of 870 km/h and a ceiling of 11000 meters. The maximum range is 5,000 km with a load of 14 tons, 2,700 km with a load of 23 tons, and 2,000 km with a full load of 26 tons.
So far, in addition to Portugal, Brazil (19 ordered and 6 delivered), Hungary (2 ordered and 1 tested flight), the Netherlands (5 ordered), Austria (4 ordered), the Czech Republic (2 ordered) and South Korea (12 ordered) have also purchased C-390 medium transport aircraft. The aircraft are currently being rolled out to Saudi and Asian markets and are participating in a competitive bid under India's MTA medium transport aircraft program, through which the Indian Air Force hopes to procure between 40 and 80 medium transport aircraft.