Embraer C-390

Strategic decisions loom for some of the biggest Western airlift programs.

The FAA plans to mandate manufacturer-recommended swaps of certain IAE V2500 high pressure compressor (HPC) stage 3 rotor blades.

Embraer has withdrawn a proposal to open a final assembly center in Saudi Arabia for the C-390 in favor of offering a regional completion center for the airlifter in the UAE.

The Embraer KC-390 and Saab Gripen E have concluded inflight refueling trials with the Brazilian Air Force.

The South Korean government will have at least two alternatives next year for a scheduled decision on whether to buy an additional batch of Boeing P-8As.

Sweden has formally placed its order for the Embraer C-390, becoming the sixth European nation to commit to the airlifter.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The Portuguese government has signed an amendment in its contract with Embraer to purchase a sixth KC-390 airlifter and has added 10 purchase options.

While Portugal’s effort to replace its F-16 fleet have dragged on, other elements of the Portuguese Air Force’s 5.3 Modernization Plan are progressing more smoothly.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2025 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast

The Austrian Air Force is looking to define the requirements for its Eurofighter Typhoon replacement effort this year.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2025 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast

Several key aircraft fleets of the Royal Saudi Air Force are expected to reach the end of their operational service life during this decade, increasing the urgency to identify successor platforms.

Lithuania has become the latest NATO member to select the Embraer C-390 as its future airlifter.

Embraer is working to refine its evolution of the KC-390 over the coming year to define its maritime patrol aircraft and refueling boom strategy.

Embraer Defense hosted a demo flight of the KC-390 Millennium, its multi-mission military aircraft, during the 2025 Paris Air Show.

Portugal has exercised an option for a sixth Embraer KC-390 and taken options for 10 more.

Denmark, Finland and Sweden have signed a declaration of intent to join NATO’s Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet.

Embraer is soliciting requirements from the Brazilian Air Force and Portuguese Air Force on a potential maritime patrol version of the C-390 airlifter.

It seems that a value can now be placed on the importance and capability of the growing fleet of C-390 Millenniums to European air arms.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2025 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

According to data from Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s Fleet Discovery Military tool, the global fleet of C-390s will increase more than 500% by 2035, from the ten in service today to 51 in 2035.

Embraer is hoping other customers can emulate the KC-390’s smooth entry into service with the Portuguese Air Force.

Embraer says Portugal has joined an ongoing study by the Brazilian Air Force to adapt the C-390 for surveillance missions.