Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer announced at the Singapore Airshow 2026 that the Republic of Uzbekistan has been revealed as the previously undisclosed customer for the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. The acquisition marks a significant strategic milestone, establishing the Uzbek Air Force as the launch customer and first operator of the twin-engine tactical airlifter in Central Asia. Tashkent intends to deploy the aircraft primarily for logistics transport, aerial delivery, and humanitarian relief operations, driving a major modernization phase for its military airlift fleet and replacing legacy Soviet-era transport platforms.
As a modern 21st-century medium tactical transport, the C-390 Millennium delivers enhanced payload capability, speed, and operational range over traditional turboprop platforms in its weight class. Powered by two wing-mounted International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500-E5 turbofans, the high-wing airlifter achieves a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.8 (470 kt) and can carry a maximum payload of up to 26 metric tons (57,320 lb). Designed to operate in austere conditions, the aircraft incorporates heavy-duty landing gear with low-pressure tires, allowing it to perform operations from unpaved, temporary, or damaged runways while remaining fully interoperable within NATO operational standards and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) frameworks.
Technologically advanced, the C-390 incorporates a full fly-by-wire flight control system with active sidesticks, an autothrottle system, and a modern glass cockpit equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics and head-up displays linked to an enhanced vision system. Navigational and tactical sensor integration includes a Thales Group navigation suite and the Leonardo Gabbiano tactical radar, which offers synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) capabilities, while self-defense is bolstered by directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM). The platform also features quick-convert aerial refueling capabilities in its KC-390 configuration, utilizing two wing-mounted Cobham probe-and-drogue pods capable of transferring fuel at rates up to 1,500 liters per minute.
The aircraft’s modular cargo hold—measuring 18.5 meters in length, 3.45 meters in width, and 2.95 meters in height—is equipped with an automated cargo handling and aerial delivery system capable of airdropping loads up to 19 metric tons. The cargo bay can accommodate up to 80 fully equipped troops, 66 paratroopers, 74 medical evacuation litters, or heavy wheeled and tracked armored vehicles such as the M113 or Boxer. With this selection, Uzbekistan joins an expanding global user base that includes operators and customer nations such as Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Lithuania, and South Korea.
