A top-ranking Peruvian military delegation flew on board an Embraer KC-390 in Lima on May 16, a demonstration flight that comes as Peru evaluations military transport options. 

Army General Manuel Gómez de La Torre, head of Peru’s Joint Command, led the delegation that flew on the Brazilian air force KC-390 during Exercise Cooperation IX, the Brazilian air force said. 

The demonstration flight was intended to give Gomez de La Torre and other members of the Joint Command a sense of the KC-390 and the capabilities of Brazil’s defense industry. 

“Brazil's defense industry can supply, with advantages, Peruvian strategic needs, including the diversification of military technology providers and competitive and high-quality equipment such as the KC-390,” said Sergio Franca Danese, Brazil’s ambassador to Peru. 

The KC-390 is reportedly one of several options being evaluated by Peru to replace an aging fleet of Lockheed L-100 freighters and KC-130 tanker-transports. 

Earlier this year, Ukraine manufacturer Antonov canceled an order by Peru for An-178 military transports, citing the damage to infrastructure during the ongoing war with Russia.