Embraer C-390 Millennium

The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. 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 is the heaviest aircraft the company has made to date.
The first production aircraft was delivered to the Brazilian Air Force on 4September 2019. On 18 November 2019 during the Dubai Airshow, Embraer announced the aircraft's new name for the global market, C-390 "Millennium".
Development.
Studies.
Between 2005 and 2007, Embraer intended to use the wing and GE CF34 engine of the mature Embraer E-190 with a cabin modified as a cargo hold with a rear ramp, closed-loop fly-by-wire and synthetic vision. The initial design was a high-wing E190.
By 2006, Embraer was studying a military tactical transport design of a similar size to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, powered by 17,000–22,000 lbf (75.6–98 kN) engines like the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 or Rolls-Royce BR715. In April 2007, Embraer reported it was studying a medium-size airlifter, with the company designation "C-390". The transport aircraft is to incorporate many of the technological solutions from the Embraer E-Jet family series and feature a rear ramp for loading and unloading a wide range of cargo.
In March 2008, the Brazilian Government planned to invest about R$60 million (or US$33 M) in initial development of the aircraft and the Brazilian Air Force was simultaneously finalizing an initial purchase contract for some 22 to 30 aircraft, while Embraer was negotiating with possible partners. In May 2008, the Brazilian Congress released R$800 million (US$440M) to be invested in the project and development of the aircraft. The media also claimed that this aircraft is going to be used not only by the Brazilian Air Force, but also by their Army and Navy, with unconfirmed sales to other government agencies.
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, with a new fuselage cross-section, wing, engine and flight deck, beyond the E-190 limited wing surface and engines, to replace the operating envelope of the Brazilian Air Force's C-130s. In Embraer's view, the 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 efficiency in normal conditions rather than performance in unusual conditions like the Antonov An-32.
In March 2010, Embraer drew up a development schedule, with the first prototype aircraft scheduled to be delivered in late 2014. In July, during the Farnborough Airshow, the Brazilian Air Force announced it will order 28 C-390s and Embraer announced an increase in the cargo capacity to . During the 2011 Paris Air Show, Embraer announced plans to launch a stretched version of the C-390 focused on the civil cargo market in 2018, with 200–250 predicted orders over a 10-year period. Two plugs will be added fore and aft of the centre fuselage section increasing internal capacity, but also providing for a side cargo door.
In April 2011, Embraer estimated 695 military transport aircraft will need to be replaced during the following decade.
Partnerships.
In August 2010, Argentine Defence Minister Nilda Garré announced that Argentina will participate in the construction of the aircraft. On 24 August, the defence ministers of Chile and Brazil signed an agreement for Chile's ENAER company to join the C-390 industry team. Colombia also signed an agreement to join the 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 built by Embraer's Portuguese subsidiary OGMA.
In April 2012, Boeing and Embraer signed a cooperation agreement. In June, they partnered to develop the C-390 and possibly to sell it.
Major subcontractors include Aero Vodochody for the rear fuselage section, Rockwell Collins for the avionics, BAE Systems for the fly-by-wire primary flight control system, ELEB for the landing gear, and Rockwell Collins for the cargo handling and aerial delivery system. International Aero Engines (IAE) supplies the V2500-E5 turbofans, its first military application. Fábrica Argentina de Aviones supplies the tail cone, cargo door and landing gear doors.
Flight testing.
Two prototypes were planned by the program. The first prototype (PT-ZNF) rolled out from the Embraer subsidiary plant, Embraer Defense and Security, at Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo on 21 October 2014, and flew for the first time on 3February 2015.
In July 2015, the company announced a two-year delay in the flight test program, citing the devaluation of the Brazilian currency and government spending cuts. However, a second test flight took place at Gavião Peixoto on 26 October 2015. By February 2016, the first prototype had logged more than 100 hours of flight. With the resumption of flight-testing, the manufacturer expected to certify the aircraft in 2017 and begin deliveries in 2018. The eight months between test flights were used to conduct ground vibration tests to validate aeroelastic models, as well as avionics, mission, landing gear and electric and hydraulic flight control system testing. Embraer has reported good availability for testing, sometimes doing two flights per day. The aircraft was tested to the limits of speed, Mach number, and altitude, as well as all slats, flaps and landing gear positions.
The second prototype (PT-ZNJ) was finished in March 2016 and made the first flight on 28 April 2016.
By then, Richard Aboulafia's Teal Group estimated the C-390 price at $50–55 million, $15 million less than the Hercules.
On 17 October 2017, the first prototype (PT-ZNF) had an uncommanded descent from 20000 ft to 3100 ft at 4500 ft/min. In December 2017, as the two prototypes accumulated over 1,500 flight hours and laboratory testing over 40,000 hours, initial operating capability was reached while full operational capability was expected in 2018. On 5May 2018, the first prototype (PT-ZNF) ran off the runway during a ground test in Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil. The third C-390 built and first production aircraft first flew on 6October 2018.
After 1,900 flight hours in testing, the C-390 received Brazilian civil type certification on 23 October 2018; the first production aircraft is to be delivered to the Brazilian air force in the first half 2019 and should obtain military certification by the end of 2019. The third aircraft (PT-ZNG), originally slated for the first delivery, has been redirected to complete certification.
On 8 February 2021, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force tested a KC-390 in extreme cold conditions in the US.
Joint venture and name change.
On 18 November 2019, Boeing (49%) and Embraer (51%) announced a joint venture to promote and develop new markets for the "C-390 Millennium" tactical transport aircraft, called Boeing Embraer – Defense, to operate after the regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Design.
Embraer built the C-390 around the long, 3.45 m (11.3 ft) wide and high hold with a rear ramp. Its twin IAE V2500-E5 turbofans are mounted forward on the high wing with anhedral angle, slats and up to 40° flaps High-lift devices. The landing gear has low-pressure tires, two on the nose and four on either side bogies for soft, unpaved ground or damaged runways. Fly-by-wire flight controls with active sidesticks allows load factors up to 3g. The cockpit has head-up displays for the enhanced vision system with four cameras and Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion commercial avionics.
The aircraft can carry : two fully tracked M113 armored personnel carriers, one Boxer or Brazilian VBTP-MR Guarani wheeled armored 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. The C-390 can refuel in flight other aircraft through two wing-mounted probe and drogue pods from Cobham plc delivering up to per minute from a total fuel capacity, between and from .
With extended slats, idle thrust and flight spoilers extended to 40°, it descends at a rate of at its maximum IAS. With flaps full at 40 degrees, it stalls at IAS.
Operational history.
Brazil.
In 2014 the Government of Brazil ordered 28 C-390s with the intention of progressively replacing the Brazilian Air Force's cargo aircraft fleet, including its C-130s. The first C-390 was officially delivered to the Brazilian Air Force on 4 September 2019. The fleet of C-390s will be operated from Anápolis Air Force Base by the 1st Troop Transportation Group (1º GTT) "Zeus".
In January 2021, in the middle of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brazilian city of Manaus, located in the interior of the amazon rainforest, was left with an overburdened medical service needing medical supplies and help with transferring patients. A major operation was set up by the Brazilian air force, mobilizing all its available transport aviation. The C-390 played a key role in this operation, carrying out an airlift mission connecting the city of Manaus to the rest of the country, taking hospital supplies and removing hundreds of patients from an overloaded Manaus.
Hungary.
On 17 November 2020, almost six months after Hungary retired its last Soviet era An-26 military cargo plane, Embraer announced that Hungary had signed an order for two KC-390s, along with full training, support and maintenance. The first aircraft is to be delivered to the Hungarian Air Force in 2023, with the second following in 2024. The configurations that the Hungarian Defence Forces ordered include the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) kit, enabling Hungary to provide intensive care medicine in humanitarian missions abroad.
Portugal.
In February 2010 Embraer proposed the C-390 to the Portuguese Ministry of Defense as a replacement option for the Portuguese Air Force's aging fleet of C-130s. In December 2011 the Portuguese government was to sign an €87–million contract with Embraer for part of the production of the C-390.
In 2017 the Portuguese Government authorized the purchase of five C-390 military aircraft, with the option for a sixth. Portugal is to buy five C-390s and a flight simulator for pilot training at a cost of €827 million. The first aircraft is to be delivered in February 2023 with deliveries scheduled to be completed by February 2027.
Marketing and orders.
The C-390 has been marketed as a jet-powered alternative to the C-130 Hercules produced by Lockheed Martin. As of December 2020, Brazil, Portugal and Hungary have signed orders for a total of 35 C-390s, while a further four countries have expressed their interest in procuring the aircraft (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and the Czech Republic).
In 2007, Correios, the Brazilian postal service, was interested in buying five or more aircraft to replace commercial freight service for mail transport. In September 2009, France could buy 10 C-390s to compensate the Dassault Rafale sale to Brazil. In May 2011, Correios was to buy 15 Embraer aircraft.
In October 2009, Sweden was to evaluate the C-390 in connection to its F-X2 offer on JAS 39 Gripen.
In August 2010, the Chilean Air Force planned to order six C-390s. In September, Colombia intended to order 12 C-390s. Later that month, the Czech Air Force expressed a need for two C-390s. That month, the UAE were negotiating an agreement for military cooperation, which would involve sales of the C-390. 
In October 2010 the Argentine Air Force expressed interest in buying six C-390s.
In February 2012 Peru expressed interest in the C-390.
In June 2013, Boeing agreed to market the C-390 in the US, UK, and Middle East, building on the June 2012 MoU. In August, the Colombian Air Force announced that it would acquire a fleet of C-390s to replace its Lockheed C-130 Hercules fleet.
In February 2018, aviation services company SkyTech signed a letter of intent for up to six aircraft.
In October 2019, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his country's interest in the C-390 during a meeting with President Jair Bolsonaro.