Embraer KC-390

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.

Work on the project began at Embraer during the mid-2000s, with early efforts centred around a conceptual derivative of the E190 jetliner of a similar size to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The company was keen to use pure jet propulsion, instead of turboprops. Support for the venture was forthcoming from both the Brazilian Government and the Brazilian Air Force; in May 2008, the government invested R$800 million (US$440M) in the project's development. On 14 April 2009, Embraer was issued a $1.5 billion contract for two prototypes. At the 2011 Paris Air Show, Embraer announced plans to launch a stretched version of the aircraft as a civilian freighter. Partnerships were promptly formed with various other aerospace companies on the programme, including ENAER, OGMA, and Boeing. A joint venture with Boeing was announced in November 2019, but was quickly fell apart within six months. Major subcontractors in the aircraft's manufacturing include Aero Vodochody, BAE Systems, and Rockwell Collins.

On 3February 2015, the first of two prototypes performed its maiden flight. On 4September 2019, the first production aircraft was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force. On 18 November 2019, during the Dubai Airshow, Embraer announced the aircraft's new name for the global market, C-390 ''Millennium''. Several export customers for the C-390 have been secured, including the Portuguese Air Force, Hungarian Air Force, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. With a load capacity of , the aircraft can be configured to perform various conventional operations such as troop, VIP and cargo transportation, and more specialised logistical operations such as aerial refuelling as a tanker. It can carry payloads of up to , such as two fully-tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, one Boxer armoured vehicle, a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, 74 litters with life-support equipment, up to 80 soldiers or 66 paratroopers with full gear, and loads of up to can be air dropped.

Development

Studies

In the early 2000s, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer became interested in developing its own medium-sized transport aircraft; its initial design study was based around a high-wing derivative of its existing E190 jetliner. Between 2005 and 2007, it investigated the pairing of the wing and GE CF34 engine of the mature Embraer 190 (E190) with a cabin that was modified to function as a cargo hold, complete with a rear ramp, closed-loop fly-by-wire system, and synthetic vision.

By 2006, Embraer was studying a military tactical transport design of a similar size to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which was to be powered by 17,000–22,000 lbf (75.6–98 kN) jet engines, such as the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 and Rolls-Royce BR715. In April 2007, Embraer publicly stated that it was studying a medium-size airlifter. Referred to by the company designation ''C-390'', this transport aircraft was said to incorporate many of the technological solutions present on the Embraer E-Jet series and feature a rear ramp for the loading and unloading of a wide range of cargo.

In March 2008, the Brazilian Government planned to invest about R$60 million (equivalent to ) in the aircraft's initial development; simultaneously, the Brazilian Air Force was in the process of finalizing an initial purchase contract for between 22 to 30 aircraft, while Embraer was negotiating with possible partners on the programme. Two months later, the Brazilian Congress released R$800 million (US$440M) to be invested in the project and fund the aircraft's development. Around this time, the media claimed that the aircraft would be operated not only by the Brazilian Air Force, but also by the Army and Navy as well, and that there were unconfirmed sales to other government agencies in the works.

Program launch

On 14 April 2009, Embraer was awarded with a $1.5 billion contract to develop and build two prototypes. At the programme launch, the design was all-new in terms of its fuselage, wing, flight deck, and engine selection; accordingly, the E-190's wing had been dispensed with, partly due to its limited surface area; it was also stated that the aircraft would be the operational successor to the Brazilian Air Force's C-130 fleet. According to Embraer, the selected jet engine is sufficiently resilient to dust ingestion, whereas propeller tips close to the ground are susceptible to damage. Embraer also chose the IAE V2500 engine for its efficiency under normal conditions, rather than prioritising its performance under unusual conditions, such as on the Antonov An-32.

In March 2010, Embraer drew up a development schedule, upon which the first prototype aircraft was scheduled to be delivered in late 2014. In July of that year, at the Farnborough Airshow, the Brazilian Air Force announced its intent to order 28 C-390s, while Embraer announced an increase in the aircraft's cargo capacity to . At the 2011 Paris Air Show, Embraer announced plans to launch a stretched version of the C-390 focused on the civil market for freighters sometime around 2018; it estimated that the company would receive 200–250 orders over a 10-year period. To increase internal capacity, two plugs will be added fore and aft of the centre fuselage section, which would also provide a new side cargo door.

In April 2011, Embraer estimated 695 military transport aircraft will need to be replaced in the following decade.

Partnerships

On 24 August 2010, the defence ministers of Chile and Brazil signed an agreement for the Chilean aircraft company ENAER to join the C-390 industry team. That same month, Argentine Defence Minister Nilda Garré announced that Argentina would also participate in the construction programme. In September 2010, Colombia also signed an agreement to participate in the C-390 programme. On 10 September 2010, the defense minister of Portugal signed an intentions letter to join the programme. On 14 December 2011, Brazil and Portugal agreed a defense partnership with EEA engineering components to be manufactured by Embraer's Portuguese subsidiary OGMA.

In April 2012, the American aerospace giant Boeing and Embraer signed a cooperation agreement. Two months later, a agreement was signed by the two companies to collaborate on the development of the C-390, and possibly extending to sales as well. In June 2013, Boeing agreed to market the C-390 in the US, UK, and Middle East, building on the June 2012 MoU. On 18 November 2019, it was announced that Boeing and Embraer were to form a new joint venture company to promote and develop new markets for the ''C-390 Millennium''. This new company, Boeing Embraer – Defense, was to have its ownership divided between a 51% stake held by Embraer and 4% by Boeing; it was to commenced operations following the granting of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of closing conditions. However, on 24 April 2020, it was announced that Boeing had chose to terminate the planned joint ventures with Embraer.

Major subcontractors include Aero Vodochody for the rear fuselage section, BAE Systems for the fly-by-wire primary flight control system, ELEB for the landing gear, OGMA, involved in the design and manufacturing of the sponsons, including the central fuselage, and development of the landing gear, rear wing elevators, fuselage and part of the rudder with CEiiA, with Rockwell Collins for the avionics, cargo handling and aerial delivery system. International Aero Engines (IAE) supplies the V2500-E5 turbofans, its use on the C-390 is its first military application. Fábrica Argentina de Aviones supplies the tail cone, cargo door and landing gear doors.

Flight testing

It was decided to construct a pair of prototypes to participate in the test programme. On 21 October 2014, the first prototype (PT-ZNF) rolled out from the Embraer subsidiary plant, Embraer Defense and Security, at Gavião Peixoto