The Embraer KC-390 Millennium, a medium-weight, jet-powered military transport aircraft from Brazil, is setting new standards in global aviation. After winning the Concours d’Elegance award at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, England, in 2024, the aircraft proved its worth in terms of speed, modernity, and multifunctionality—a combination that the Hungarian Defense Forces also recognized early on.
Hungary is considered a pioneer in the introduction of this type of aircraft, honvedelem.hu recalls. The first Brazilian military transport aircraft arrived on September 5, 2024, at the base of the 101st Airborne Brigade ‘vitéz Szentgyörgyi DezsÅ‘’ in Kecskemét (central Hungary), with the second expected in the near future.
The KC-390 replaces the aging Soviet An-26 transport aircraft and marks a significant technological leap forward.
Lieutenant Colonel Róbert Mavronyi, program manager for the KC-390 in the Hungarian General Staff, emphasizes the importance of the acquisition. “The engine of any armed force is mobility. To achieve this, our country also needed a suitable means of transporting military personnel and goods under all conditions. Compared to the An-26 aircraft previously operated, the KC-390 is an order of magnitude more modern and lives up to today’s standards,” he explained.
KC-390 Millennium. Photo: Honvedelem.hu
The capabilities of the Embraer KC-390 Millennium have already been extensively tested by the Hungarian Air Force. During the national defense exercise “Adaptive Hussars 2025,” the aircraft was used for transport and airborne tasks.
The aircraft was also used several times to deploy special forces, including for the multinational exercise “Black Swan 2025” and the exercise “Cold Peak 2025” in North Macedonia. Hungary is the first customer to procure a special intensive care unit (ICU) for the Embraer KC-390 to transport critically injured patients on board. This was tested in August.
Another groundbreaking project is planned for 2026, when Hungary will pioneer testing of the KC-390’s air-to-air refueling capability in collaboration with the manufacturer.
This will enable the Hungarian Gripen fleet to be refueled in the air without international assistance in the future.
Marcio Monteiro, Vice President of Market Research at Embraer Defense & Security, praised Hungary’s role. “Portugal has been our partner in this program from the beginning, but Hungary was the first country to recognize the platform’s potential – that is why we value our relationship with the Hungarian Defense Forces so much. We want the Hungarian Air Force to be successful and become the benchmark for the platform’s application,” he emphasized.
KC-390 Millennium. Photo: Honvedelem.hu
After Brazil and Portugal, that were partners in the program from the outset, Hungary was the first country to opt for the new transport aircraft type without any self-interest. Austria, the Netherlands, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and Sweden have now also signed contracts for the KC-390. Negotiations with Lithuania and Slovakia are nearing completion.
According to the manufacturer, the KC-390 Millennium has become the most sought-after military transport aircraft on the global market within five years.
With currently over fifty orders and plans to double annual production by 2030, the Brazilian company is continuing its successful course, led by the ambitious steps taken by the Hungarian Defense Forces.
Via Honvedelem.hu, Featured image: Honvedelem.hu
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