South Korea has chosen the Embraer C-390 Millennium as its new military transport aircraft, announced by the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) at a conference held at the National Defense Ministry in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
The Brazilian manufacturer’s aircraft won the competition, known as the ‘Large Transport Aircraft Project II’, aimed at increasing the Air Force’s transport fleet for military missions, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping operations. The C-390 was selected after competing with Lockheed Martin’s C-130J and Airbus’ A400M.
DAPA had conducted local testing and evaluation to assess the performance of each transport aircraft in March and April of this year. Afterward, during the full-scale negotiation process, Airbus reportedly received positive evaluations for range and transport capacity but withdrew from the competition due to the budget limit set by ROKAF.
The selection of the C-390, South Korea’s first Brazilian military aircraft, was based on its performance, price, and collaboration with local companies. Embraer will provide an undisclosed number of C-390 Millennium aircraft, specifically configured to meet the requirements of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), including training, ground support equipment, and spare parts.
«We expect this project to improve air transport and peacekeeping capabilities,» the agency stated.
The C-390, capable of carrying more cargo (26 tons) and flying faster (470 knots) than other medium-sized military aircraft, has proven its capacity and reliability since it entered operation with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and recently with the Portuguese Air Force in 2023.
Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, highlighted that South Korea joins a growing list of countries operating the C-390, an aircraft redefining military transport, with an operational availability of 80% and a mission completion rate over 99%.
«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 demonstrated its capability to complete a wide range of missions with great efficiency, serviceability, and speed,» said Bosco da Costa Jr.
«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,» he added.
The contract with Embraer includes a significant industrial offset package, with local manufacturing of C-390 parts in South Korea and the development of a local Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider.
South Korea is the seventh nation to select the C-390, following Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic. This aircraft, capable of performing a wide range of missions such as cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, can operate on temporary or unpaved runways.
The aircraft, configured with air-to-air refueling equipment, designated as KC-390, has already demonstrated its aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker and receiver, in this case receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
