South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced Embraer’s C-390 Millennium as the winner of the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender to provide the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with new military transport aircraft.
Under the signed contract, Brazilian aerospace company Embraer will provide an undisclosed number of C-390 Millennium aircraft specially configured to meet ROKAF’s requirements, as well as services & support including training, ground support equipment and spare parts. The value of the contract will be included in Embraer’s backlog in the fourth quarter of 2023.
South Korea is the C-390 Millennium’s first customer in Asia and the seventh nation to select the aircraft. The C-390 is a multi-mission aircraft that can carry up to 26 tons of payload, fly at a speed of 470 knots, and operate on temporary or unpaved runways.
It has already been in operation with the Brazilian and Portuguese Air Forces, accumulating more than 10,800 flight hours with an operational availability of around 80% and mission completion rates above 99%.
The C-390 is capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions. Embraer will also provide a comprehensive consortium and offset package, including the development of a local Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider and a significant amount of C-390 Millennium parts to be locally manufactured by Korean partner companies.
The package is designed to support the South Korean Air Force’s operational requirements and enhance the country’s aerospace industry. The C-390 is redefining military airlift and challenging the thinking behind current and future generation platforms, with multi-mission capability, reliability, and interoperability built by design.
The aircraft configured with air-to-air refuelling equipment, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its aerial refuelling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
“We welcome the Republic of Korea Air Force to the growing number of air forces operating the C-390 Millennium – the most modern military tactical transport aircraft. Day after day, the aircraft has proven its capability to complete a wide range of missions with great efficiency, serviceability and speed,” said Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security.
“This is a new era in Brazil-South Korea relations and together with our Korean partners, we are committed to growing the capabilities of its aerospace and defense industries.”
