Embraer's C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft yesterday achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC), in a ceremony held at the Gavião Peixoto Unit in São Paulo, in the presence of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command.
Issued by the Institute of Industrial Development and Coordination (IFI in Portuguese), the Brazilian body responsible for certifying aircraft for military purposes, the FOC Certificate confirms that the project meets all the requirements defined by the FAB and that the aircraft can carry out all missions for which it was designed.
“This certificate places the C-390 in a select group of aircraft in the world,” Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security said. “It is a unique moment in Embraer's history.
"The C-390 is redefining the military airlift and refueling space, challenging the thinking behind current and future generation platforms. Air forces around the world are focused on matching their ever-evolving operational needs with their budgets, seeking a platform that can perform multiple missions, recognising that today's choice will affect their operational capabilities tomorrow.”
The C-390 was developed under the operational requirements of the FAB. As part of the development and certification process, around 3,500 hours were flown on the prototype aircraft under the most varied operating conditions, and another 85,000 hours were performed using laboratory test benches and devices.
Also at the ceremony, Embraer began the delivery process to the FAB of the sixth unit of the C-390, the first in the FOC configuration. The other aircraft already delivered to the FAB will now be updated to have the certification. In addition, all aircraft to be exported will also have this certification.
The C-390 is a new generation military tactical transport aircraft. According to Embraer, the C-390 can carry more payload (26 tonnes) compared to other medium-sized military cargo aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and firefighting and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways. In its refueling version, the aircraft has already proven its aerial refueling capacity, as well as an aircraft receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings, reportedly being the only aircraft in the world in the segment to carry out such an operation.
The C-390 entered operation with FAB in 2019, and the current fleet of five aircraft, all in the aerial refueling version, designated KC-390, has accumulated more than 8,200 flight hours to date. The C-390 Millennium has orders from Portugal and Hungary, both NATO member countries. The Netherlands, also a member of NATO, selected the C-390 Millennium in 2022.
The C-390 was also evaluated for the Commonwealth’s Air 7404 Phase 1 Medium Air Mobility Aircraft (MAMA) program, but the Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules was ultimately selected, as announced last November. A comprehensive look at the C-390 can be found in the Feb/March edition of ADM.