Embraer today delivered the first C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft to the Hungarian Air Force. The aircraft will be the first in the world equipped with a roll-on/roll-off Intensive Care Unit, being even better equipped to perform humanitarian missions and Medical Evacuation Missions. The Hungarian C-390 is fully compatible with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements, not only in terms of its hardware but also in its avionics and communications configuration. The aircraft fully meets the requirements of the Hungarian Defence Forces, being able to perform different types of military and civilian missions, including Medical Evacuation, Humanitarian Support, Search and Rescue, Cargo and Troops Transport, Precision Cargo Airdrop, Paratroopers Operations, and Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR).
“This is a very special moment for Embraer, as we deliver the first C-390 Millennium to the Hungarian Air Force. This aircraft delivers an unbeatable combination of performance, flexibility and reduced life cycle costs, making it the airlift of choice in Europe. We are confident that the C-390 will add important capabilities to Hungary and we look forward to supporting the aircraft’s entry into service”, said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“The arrival of this aircraft represents a real milestone for the Hungarian Air Force as it will give the Hungarian Defence Forces unprecedented capabilities in military air transport. It is in Hungary’s security interest to have strong, well-equipped, modern defence forces, and we are working on that. Embraer is an excellent partner in this”, said Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence of Hungary.
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. It is the heaviest aircraft the company has constructed to date. The C-390 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 such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways. The aircraft configured with air-to-air refueling equipment, with the designation KC-390, can operate both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case also by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
Since entering operation with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has proven its capacity, reliability, and performance. In November 2020, Hungary signed an order for two KC-390s, along with full training, support and maintenance. In June 2022 the Netherlands Ministry of Defense announced that it had found a successor to the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s (RNLAF) C-130H Hercules, which were becoming increasingly maintenance-hungry due to their advanced age. The RNLAF expects to receive five C-390 Millenniumaircraft from 2026 onwards, allowing annual flight hours to rise from the required 2,400 to 4,000. In September 2023, Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner announced the C-390 as the successor to the Austrian Air Force’s C-130 Hercules. In December 2023, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) decided to introduce three KC-390s by 2026, with a budget of KRW 710 billion (US$540M).
