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)
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.
More from Air Warfare
-
General Atomics empowers US Army MDO demo with Gray Eagle
In support of the US Army, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has integrated and tested new capabilities on the Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) as part of an effort to modernise the UAS for multi-domain operations (MDO).
-
US V-22 Osprey clutch-related grounding issue remains mystery
The US government and industry aim to complete the replacement of affected clutch parts by autumn. The Japanese V-22 fleet is expected to follow the same procedure to avoid the the same problem arising.
-
Trillium imaging payloads selected for British Army's Stalker VXE30 drone fleet
Trillium Engineering's HD55 series payloads will equip the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Stalker VXE30 ISR UAS supplied to the British Army under the UK MoD's Project Tiquila effort.
-
US declines Thai F-35 fighter request, offers F-15 and F-16
The US has advised the Royal Thai Air Force that the service is not ready to operate the F-35 yet, according to local media reports.