The first Embraer C-390 Millennium multi-mission military transport aircraft arrived on Thursday at the 101st Aviation Brigade of the Hungarian Defense Forces base in Kecskemét.
In November 2020, the Hungarian government signed a contract with Embraer to acquire two C-390s. The Hungarian Defense Forces aircraft are the first in the world to have an Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, being even better equipped to perform humanitarian missions and Medical Evacuation Missions. The Hungarian C-390 is fully compatible with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements, not only in terms of its hardware, but also in its avionics and communications configuration.
First Hungarian C-390 Millennium Photo: Embraer
“The arrival of this aircraft represents a real milestone for the Hungarian Air Force as it will give the Hungarian Defence Forces unprecedented capabilities in military air transport. It is in Hungary’s security interest to have strong, well-equipped, modern defence forces, and we are working on that. Embraer is an excellent partner in this”, said Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence of Hungary.
Embraer reports that the aircraft fully meets the requirements of the Hungarian Defense Forces, being able to perform different types of military and civilian missions, including medical evacuation, humanitarian support, search and rescue, cargo and troop transport, precision cargo airdrop, parachute operations and air-to-air refueling (AAR).
“This is a very special moment for Embraer, as we deliver the first C-390 Millennium to the Hungarian Air Force. This aircraft delivers an unbeatable combination of performance, flexibility and reduced life cycle costs, making it the airlift of choice in Europe”, said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “We are confident that the C-390 will add important capabilities to Hungary and we look forward to supporting the aircraft’s entry into service.”
Photo: Embraer
Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has demonstrated its capability, reliability, and performance. The current fleet of aircraft in operation has accumulated more than 14,000 flight hours, with a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates exceeding 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in its category.
