The first C-390 Millennium aircraft destined for the Hungarian Air Force has completed its maiden flight.
The flight, conducted by the Embraer Defense & Security team, took place at the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, on February 8, 2024, and lasted approximately four hours.
“This maiden flight is a major milestone for the Hungarian C-390 program,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The C-390 Millennium is receiving international recognition on the back of its remarkable operational performance and capabilities, and Embraer is ramping up production to address increasing market demand.”
Hungary was the third country to order the C-390, following Brazil and Portugal. After retiring two Antonov An-26 aircraft from the Soviet era, the Hungarian Air Force’s transport capacity was reduced to two Airbus A319.
Consequently, on November 17, 2020, the Hungarian Ministry of Defense announced the acquisition of two KC-390 aircraft produced by the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. These aircraft will be the first in the world to have an Intensive Care Unit in their configuration, a crucial tool for conducting humanitarian missions.
What is the Embraer C-390 Millennium?
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a tactical transport aircraft, designed for a diverse array of missions. Its capabilities span from medical evacuations to search and rescue missions and troop and cargo transport. It can even be customized for specialized tasks such as aerial refueling (KC-390) and waterbombing. Equipped with Pratt and Whitney V2500-E5 engines, it boasts a robust cargo capacity of 26 tons.
The first Embraer C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and more recently with the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) in October 2023.
Along with Hungary, the multi-mission aircraft has also been chosen by the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and South Korea.