Embraer and South African defence company Denel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines the framework for a potential future collaboration on the KC-390 Millennium aircraft with focus on aerostructures manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our ties with Denel, a proven aerospace leader in South Africa, as the country looks to replace its legacy military aircraft. We are looking forward to providing South Africa with the most advanced aircraft in its category while cooperating with South Africa’s defense industry,” said Fabio Caparica, Vice President of Contracts at Embraer Defense & Security.
Chris Boshoff, Group Executive CEO Aerospace of Denel, expressed his enthusiasm for partnering with a company renowned worldwide for its quality and craftsmanship, like Embraer. “Our longstanding relationship spans several decades, and this collaboration will further strengthen our ties. Denel is well-equipped and is a suitably qualified industrial partner to undertake the necessary tasks envisaged for the collaboration and will significantly enhance the strategic airlift support capabilities on the African continent.”
The KC-390 Millennium is a next generation military transport aircraft particularly suited for operations in South Africa. Its versatility, ease of reconfiguration between two missions, and ability to operate from unprepared airstrips make it an ideal, cost-efficient, aircraft for modern armed forces of the African continent.
The KC-390 Millennium can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions including humanitarian aid, transport and airdrop of cargo and troops, air-to-air refueling both as tanker and receiver, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and special operations, while operating from temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil and gravel.
The aircraft has been acquired by eight countries: Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, and an undisclosed customer. It has also been officially selected by Sweden and Slovakia to modernize their air forces. Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023 and, most recently the Hungarian Air Force in 2024, the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission military aircraft has proven its capability, reliability and performance. The current global fleet of KC-390 Millennium aircraft presents mission completion rates exceeding 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in its segment.
Embraer Super Tucano tapped by Panama for surveillance
Embraer announced the selection of the Super Tucano aircraft as the new surveillance and protection platform for Panama’s National Air and Naval Service (SENAN). The announcement, which is part of the entity’s program to structure and expand operational capacity, will largely benefit the national security project underway in the country.
“It is an honour for Embraer to have its aircraft selected by the Panamanian National Air and Naval Service and Ministry of Public Security. The Super Tucano is a world leader in its category and will certainly be able to leverage the surveillance, reconnaissance and protection capabilities of Panamanian territory,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “Embraer is a strong ally in supporting Panama’s mission to maintain national sovereignty and ensure that its society has its natural wealth and rights preserved.”
With Panama’s announcement in late March, the country became the eighth Latin American nation to choose the Super Tucano, along with Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic. Thanks to its operational flexibility and robustness, the aircraft is used for various missions, such as control of illicit activities, border monitoring, reconnaissance, and advanced training.
The Super Tucano is the global leader in its category, with over 290 orders and more than 580,000 flight hours. Currently, 20 air forces have selected the Super Tucano, and other nations have already shown their interest in the platform due to its combination of reliability, availability, robustness and low operating costs.
The Super Tucano is designed for air forces looking for a proven, comprehensive, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solution on a single platform, coupled with great operational flexibility. The aircraft operates in a wide range of missions, such as air patrol, special operations, air and tactical coordinator (TAC), ISR, border surveillance, reconnaissance, air escort, and basic, operational, and advanced pilot training.
Portugal, Brazil, Embraer study KC-390 ISR work
The Portuguese Air Force (PRT AF) officially announced its intention to join Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in collaborative studies to identify potential adaptations to the current KC-390 Millennium multi-mission tactical airlift to perform Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
“The collaborative work with Embraer is evolving efficiently and in a structured manner, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the KC-390 Millennium for the current and future needs of the Brazilian Air Force. We see a great potential of the aircraft for ISR and maritime patrol missions. The Brazilian Air Force welcomes the Portuguese Air Force in joining this study, bringing their knowledge and experience to enhance the potential solution,” said Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, Brazilian Air Force Commander.”
“We are delighted with the Portuguese Air Force decision to join the studies for this new application for the KC-390 Millennium. Since the beginning of the program, our Brazilian and Portuguese partners have been crucial in making the KC-390 program an undeniable operational and technical success,” said Bosco da Costa da Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Supported by characteristics already present in the KC-390 Millennium, such as its flexibility, robustness, state-of-the-art communication and self-protection systems, the studies have pointed to several possibilities and solutions for the integration of new mission systems, sensors, workstations, and weapons, in addition to meeting the operational expectations of the Portuguese and Brazilian Air Forces.
Sweden orders four C-390 Millenniums
Sweden officially committed to acquiring four C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft, securing the necessary production slots from Embraer. “We are proud to take a significant step towards the acquisition of this next generation NATO interoperable aircraft. The ability of the C-390 to perform its missions in challenging environments anytime, anywhere, will be a welcome upgrade for Sweden’s defense, ensuring effective operations for the decades to come,” said Peter Sandwall, State Secretary to Sweden’s Minister for Defence.
“Sweden’s commitment to acquiring four C-390 Millennium aircraft marks a significant advancement in enhancing the Swedish Air Force’s operational capabilities. These next-generation aircraft will not only boost Sweden’s military transport efficiency but also leverage existing European synergies in interoperability, training, and life cycle support. Embraer remains dedicated to fulfilling Sweden’s requirements by delivering top-tier military transport aircraft, ensuring the Swedish Air Force can execute its most demanding missions with excellence.”, said Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
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