Portugal has signed an amendment to its contract with Embraer, securing a sixth KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft and creating 10 new purchase options for potential acquisitions by allied nations.
The Portuguese Air Force, which introduced the KC-390 in 2023, is now the first operator worldwide to expand its initial order.
The deal formalizes an intention announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, when Lisbon revealed plans to add a sixth aircraft and open option slots for NATO partners.
At the same time, Portuguese officials highlighted the role of Air Base No. 11 in Beja as a KC-390 training hub, reinforcing Portugal’s position as the program’s European cornerstone.
Portugal was the first European customer of the KC-390 and has been a core industrial partner in the program since its inception. Portuguese engineers have co-developed and designed key components of the aircraft, while local suppliers provide critical parts.
According to General João Cartaxo Alves, Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, the additional aircraft boosts Portugal’s availability for tactical and logistical airlift, enabling faster and more flexible responses to both military and civilian missions.
Embraer hailed the amendment as a milestone, with president and CEO Bosco da Costa Júnior noting it was “the first of its kind by an operator.”
KC-390 across Europe and NATO
The KC-390 is gaining momentum within NATO, where it is increasingly recognized as a modern alternative to older transport aircraft. The KC-390 fills the medium airlift gap left by some retiring C-160s and serves as a bridge between smaller twin-turboprop planes like the C-27J Spartan and larger aircraft such as the Airbus A400M.
The aircraft is already flying with Hungary, which received its first unit in September 2024. The Netherlands and Austria placed a joint order for five and four aircraft, respectively, with deliveries beginning in 2027, while the Czech Republic signed for two in late 2024. Sweden confirmed four aircraft in April 2025.
At the Paris Air Show 2025, Lithuania announced plans to acquire three C-390s, marking its entry into the program as the newest NATO participant. Slovakia, meanwhile, has selected the aircraft and is advancing negotiations for three units.
The aircraft
The KC-390 Millennium is designed to carry 26 tons of payload at speeds of up to 470 knots, with the ability to operate from semi-prepared airstrips such as gravel or packed earth. The aircraft supports a wide range of missions, from troop and cargo transport to medical evacuation, firefighting, and humanitarian relief.
It can also be configured for air-to-air refueling, either as a tanker or as a receiver from another KC-390, giving NATO operators greater flexibility in joint operations.
