Brazil – July 17, 2025 – Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) celebrated two significant milestones in their defense programs this Thursday: the delivery of the third KC-390 Millennium aircraft to the FAP and the launch of the flight test campaign for the A-29N Super Tucano — including a historic joint flight between the two aircraft.
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The third KC-390 unit is part of a contract signed between Embraer and the Portuguese government that foresees a total of six aircraft in operation, with the option for ten more to be acquired by allied and NATO member countries. The A-29N, ordered in 2024, will have 12 units specially produced to meet the operational requirements of the Atlantic alliance, making Portugal the launch customer for the new variant.
“Seeing both programs progress consistently and rapidly gives us a sense of achievement and great satisfaction, allowing us to pursue the vision of a more modern, capable, and interoperable Air Force,” said Major-General João Nogueira, Director of the KC-390 Program at FAP. “The delivery of the third KC-390 expands our operational capacity and consolidates our experience with the aircraft. The start of the A-29N test campaign puts us on the right track to obtain a distinctive platform, envisioned by the Portuguese Air Force.”
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The KC-390 Millennium stands out with its 26-ton payload capacity, surpassing other medium military transport aircraft in speed (470 knots) and range. It is suitable for multiple missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian operations. It can operate from unpaved and temporary runways and can be configured for aerial refueling — both as a tanker and a receiver.
The aircraft fully meets NATO standards and requirements. In addition to Portugal, other European and NATO allied countries — such as Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and Lithuania — have already selected the KC-390 to modernize their fleets. In total, 11 nations, including Brazil and South Korea, have chosen the model.
The A-29 Super Tucano, meanwhile, is a versatile and combat-proven aircraft capable of performing a variety of missions, including close air support, aerial patrol, special operations, border surveillance, armed reconnaissance, escort, and training at all levels — from basic to advanced, including transition to air superiority fighters.
The A-29N variant will feature advanced avionics, NATO-specific communication systems, and other undisclosed capabilities developed to meet the alliance’s operational needs.
Currently, the global A-29 fleet has surpassed 600,000 flight hours, with more than 290 units ordered by 22 air forces around the world.
Source and images: Embraer. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
