Portugal is purchasing a sixth KC-390 Millennium aircraft, the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer announced at the Paris Air Show. The procurement follows a contract the country signed in August 2019 to buy five KC-390s for the Portuguese Air Force’s transport fleet. Embraer said the sixth Millennium will boost Portugal’s flight capacity for missions supporting its armed forces and national interest.
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Purchase Options for NATO Sharing
The company said the new deal includes 10 purchase options for potential KC-390 orders from European countries or NATO members. According to Embraer, the arrangement will increase interoperability and cooperation among Millennium aircraft users and offer reduced costs in training, logistics and life cycle management.
Bosco da Costa Jr., Embraer president and CEO, shared that it was an honor for the São Paulo-based company to broaden its Portuguese partnership. “The interest in placing additional options on the contract confirms that more Western countries may very soon join this group of operators, benefiting all of them in economic synergies throughout the life cycle of the KC-390,” he said.
To expand Embraer’s footprint in the region’s defense sector, a new company subsidiary, Embraer Defense Europe, opened an office in Lisbon in December. In the same month, the Portuguese Ministry of National Defense agreed to purchase 12 A-29N Super Tucano aircraft, making Portugal the first nation to use the newest variant of the trainer and light attack aircraft.
Aeromedical Evacuation Aircraft
Breaking Defense said the four-day Paris Air Show concludes Thursday with Embraer signing a separate deal with the Netherlands to purchase a new aeromedical evacuation version of the Millennium. In 2024, Amsterdam signed a joint deal with Austria to acquire nine C-390s, plus seven options for aeromedical variants open for potential sharing with NATO allies.
Financial details of both the Netherlands and Portugal deals were not disclosed.