South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has selected Embraer’s C-390 Millennium as the new military transport aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force.
As the winner of DAPA’s Large Transport Aircraft II public tender, Embraer will deliver C-390s tailor-fit to ROKAF’s specifications, along with services and support, such as crew training and supply of complementary equipment and spare parts.
Embraer did not disclose the number and value of the aircraft for delivery, but a report on the online Defence Blog magazine said DAPA’s decision entails the supply of three C-390s by 2026 with a budget allocation of $540.8 million.
The ROKAF will be Asia’s first user of the C-390 Millennium, which Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic already have or are set to include in their fleet.
The Brazil-based Embraer said the C-390’s 26-ton payload is higher than other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster at 470 knots. The aircraft is suited for a wide range of missions, such as cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, firefighting, and search and rescue.