KC-390 Orders Push Embraer To Boost Output

As Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium continues to attract orders from around the world, the Brazilian manufacturer aims to more than double annual production from the four it delivered in 2025 to 10 a year by the end of the decade. During a media briefing before the Farnborough International Airshow, Embraer Defense and Security chief marketing officer Marcio Monteiro compared demand for the multi-role military transport to a fully booked restaurant, saying, “We are being very mindful about the investments that are needed to ramp up.”

Since Brazil’s air force received its first KC-390 in 2019, 14 aircraft are in service: eight with the launch operator, four with Portugal, and two with Hungary. The Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, and South Korea are also due to take delivery of their first aircraft this year.

The aircraft for South Korea underwent a customization process at Embraer’s engineering facility in Portugal—a step that, Monteiro said, export-control regulations necessitated.

Embraer counts firm orders from 11 customers, augmented by selections from Slovakia and Lithuania. On June 10, a Greek governmental committee approved the acquisition of three aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force, drawn from Portugal’s 10 options. That approval followed Embraer’s largest export order to date: a May agreement with the United Arab Emirates for 10 aircraft plus 10 options, the company’s first sale in the Middle East.

In total, almost 60 firm orders placed with Embraer could be supplemented by about 30 more covered by options. The manufacturer estimates that 230 legacy Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft are at least 45 years old and ready for replacement, fueling demand for a modern multi-role transport.

Switching from U.S. suppliers

Speaking to reporters in mid-June, Monteiro acknowledged that although some traditional U.S. defense customers made “maybe a very brave decision to change,” Embraer believes geopolitical factors are secondary to the quality of a product it now calls “the standard setter.” The manufacturer estimates the KC-390’s total addressable market over the next two decades at some 450 aircraft—excluding the U.S., which builds its own tactical airlifter—with 17% coming from Europe. It acknowledges, though, that “some countries demand fast deliveries,” especially as the current geopolitical climate accelerates air force procurement campaigns.

That is prompting Embraer to raise production from six aircraft this year, adding one a year to reach 10 in 2030. A complete build takes about 24 months, drawing on components from Portugal and the Czech Republic, with room for five aircraft in final assembly at its Gavião Peixoto site in Brazil. Embraer says that setup can support 18 airframes a year with a “well-aligned” supply chain.

Since 2021, Embraer has reduced its defense production lead time by 34%. Nonetheless, Embraer Services & Support president and CEO Carlos Naufel said supply chain woes remain the single biggest headache for production.

In terms of post-sale support, he also highlighted the rise of a more collaborative way of working, particularly among NATO members, which are building shared capabilities rather than operating independently. Portugal’s local partners, for instance, could support an eventual Greek fleet, while South Korea’s aircraft will be backed by an in-country maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility.

Even though many customers have yet to receive their aircraft, an “evolution group” is already meeting to discuss future block upgrades. In 2025, Brazil and Portugal also launched a joint air force program to expand the airplane’s maritime patrol and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

“This work continues to evolve toward discussions of requirements and the configuration of the aircraft,” said Monteiro, who added that the company has also been approached about a potential electronic warfare variant. Embraer president and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto added that the defense business “is demanding a lot of engineering work hours because of the configurations of the KC-390 for different applications.”