Embraer reaches final agreement with Brazilian Air Force on KC-390 fleet size
While Brazil has agreed on a reduced C-390 fleet of just 19 aircraft, Portugal is on track to take its full complement of five transports, with the first arriving at Beja air base on 15 October. (Photo: Portuguese Air Force)
Following attempts to cut the programme back to just 15 aircraft, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force have agreed on a final total of 19 KC-390 twin-jet airlifters.
Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer announced on 21 October that it had agreed on a contract amendment with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) to deliver a final total of 19 KC-390 twinjet transport aircraft to the service.
This represents a substantial reduction from the initial procurement of 28 aircraft envisaged on the programme’s launch in 2014. In late 2021 the FAB stated that it wanted to cut the buy to just 15 KC-390s, with Embraer citing a total of 22 aircraft now on contract by February. Clearly, a final compromise has been reached between the parties.
Based on Shephard Defence Insight’s estimated unit cost of $85,000,000 per aircraft, the overall programme value now sits at $1.61 billion.
While this news is a setback for the KC-390 - a largely clean-sheet design intended to compete with the dominant C-130 Hercules in the tactical airlift market - the programme has enjoyed some export success recently, with the Royal Netherlands Air Force announcing an order for four examples in June to replace its C-130H fleet.
In a separate programme milestone, the first of five KC-390s ordered by Portugal’s air force arrived in-country on 15 October for certification and NATO-standard equipment integration work before final handover to the customer.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Replacement capacity tactical air transport [Netherlands]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition]()
New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition
The US$234 million award for 16 Sikorsky UH-60Ms preserves near-term production, but funding uncertainty and an undefinitised contract leave the US Army’s long-term Black Hawk requirements unresolved.
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![Germany air focus: Europe’s leading near-term air market targets domestic industry]()
Germany air focus: Europe’s leading near-term air market targets domestic industry
Between 2026 and 2032, almost a quarter of EU aircraft spending is expected to come from Germany. While crewed programmes seek modernisation and replacement, uncrewed opportunities look to introduce entirely new capabilities, with both highlighting sovereignty and domestic production.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
