The Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, Gen. João Cartaxo Alves (far left) and Embraer's Bosco da Costa Junior (far right) celebrate the delivery at Gavião Peixoto with Walter Pinto Junior, COO of Embraer's defense and security division (second left) and Brg Gen João Rui Ramos Nogueira, the PAF's director of engineering and programs.
Embraer has delivered the second of five KC-390 aircraft ordered by Portugal in 2019. The formal handover took place during a ceremony at the company's plant at Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, June 26.
"With the delivery of this second aircraft we will accelerate the integration of this distinguish[ed] capability in the Portuguese Air Force allowing us to increment the operational missions and prepare additional crew members and technicians for the future to come," the Portuguese Air Force Chief of Staff, General João Cartaxo Alves, said, according to a company release. "With the results already achieved with the first aircraft it’s clear that with this second one we will see the Portuguese KC-390s flying all around the world proving their capabilities, versatility and availability and providing added mission value for Portugal, partners and alliances."
The first Portuguese KC-390 was delivered in October 2023. The K in the designation denotes that the aircraft are being delivered as tankers but, so far, Portugal has used its first aircraft primarily in its transport role. Within days of delivery, the Portuguese Air Force deployed the aircraft as part of the multinational Ocean Sky exercise, transporting personnel and cargo to the Canary Islands. The aircraft also completed two missions to Alabama, U.S., to collect a pair of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from manufacturer Sikorsky.
"The second KC-390 Millennium delivery to the Portuguese Air Force is another important step in the process of internationalizing our aircraft, which is increasing its market recognition particularly among NATO nations," Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer’s defense and security division, said. "The Portuguese Air Force is a long-term partner of Embraer and has supported us strategically since the beginning of the program. We will continue to work together to advance our partnership in the coming years."
Embraer says the current in-service fleet - which comprises six so far delivered to the Brazilian Air Force as well as the first Portuguese aircraft - has completed more than 13,000 flight hours at an availability rate "of around 80%". The type has also been ordered by the air forces of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands and South Korea, with potential interest from nations including Greece, India and Sweden.
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