C-390 Gets New Name and a New Joint Venture

On November 18 Boeing and Embraer announced the start of a new joint venture, named Boeing Embraer–Defense, to handle all aspects of the Embraer C-390 twinjet transport program. The entity will become operational after it has received regulatory approvals.

At the same time, the aircraft—hitherto known as the KC-390— has been redesignated as the C-390 to better reflect its mission flexibility, and it has also been given the name "Millennium." Although the “K” element has been dropped, the tanker role that it represents is still a key capability of the aircraft. Embraer has received orders for 33 C-390s so far: 28 for Brazil and five for Portugal. The second Brazilian aircraft is due for delivery in December.