History:

In April 2007 Embraer announced it was developing a medium-size airlifter with the designation C 390, incorporating features from the Embraer E-jets, with a rear loading ramp. By 2009 it was decided to develop the aircraft as a clean sheet design with fly-by-wire sidestick controls. Power was to be provided by International Aero Engines IAE V2500-E5 twin-shaft high-bypass turbofans, this being a variant of the engine installed in the Airbus A320 family.

In March 2008 the Brazilian Government announced plans to invest in the initial development of the aircraft and at that time the Brazilian Air Force was finalising a purchase contract. In April 2009 a contract was awarded to build two prototypes and later the Brazilian Air Force announced it would be purchasing 28 examples.

The first prototype PT-ZNF (c/n 390801) was rolled out on 21 October 2014 at the Embraer subsidiary facility at Gaviao Peixoto, making its first flight on 3 February 2015 for an hour and 25 minutes. In June 2013 at the Paris Air Show Embraer announced it was partnering with Boeing for sales and marketing of the aircraft.

However, there was a two-year delay in the flight test program said to be due to the devaluation of the local currency and government spending cuts. After a new agreement was entered into the second flight was made on 26 October 2015 and certification was expected in late 2017. Expressions of interest had been announced by a number of countries, including six for Argentina, six for Chile, 12 for Colombia, two for the Czech Republic and six for Portugal, with Canada showing some interest. In 2015 the first prototype was shown at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom, then making a demonstration tour that took in the Czech Republic and Abu Dhabi, covering 30,200 km (18,765 miles).

The KC 390 is a high-wing T-tail aircraft with a rear cargo ramp and is in the same class as the Lockheeed C-130J Hercules. An optional self-protection suite is available and this has a missile approach warning system, directional infrared countermeasures in the tailcone, and chaff and flare dispensers. The machine can carry seven 463L pallets, including two on the ramp, or six pallets and 36 troops, 80 troops or 66 paratroops. The cargo bay is 12.7 m (47 ft 8 in) long, or 18.5m (60 ft 8 in) including the ramp, and 3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) wide.  The KC-390 can be fitted with a Cobham probe and drogue air refuelling system using wing-mounted aerial refuelling pods. It can operate from a variety of locations from unpaved airfields to ice runways in the Antarctic.

On 10 July 2017 one of the KC 390 prototypes, PT-ZNJ (c/n 390802), landed at Auckland airport, New Zealand, and the next day it flew to RNZAF Ohakea where it was shown to Defence VIPs, government personnel and RNZAF staff during a one day visit, the aircraft being put forward as an option to replace the RNZAF’s fleet of five Lockheed C-130H(NZ) Hercules, the offer by Embraer being to supply five aircraft.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence had issued a request for information for the acquisition of a future air mobility aircraft to replace the Hercules by February 2020 with an initial operational capability by February 2021 and full operational capability no later than 2023. The RNZAF also has a requirement for a Future Air Surveillance Capability platform to replace the Lockheed P-3K2 Orion and the KC 390 may be able to fulfil this role with the nose-mounted search radar and EO/IR pod, together with a palletised mission system.

This aircraft, PT-ZNJ, had left Embraer’s facility in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil on 10 June 2017 and had been flown to the Paris Air Show where it completed a number of flying displays. It then visited a number of centres for demonstrations before arriving in New Zealand. It later flew to Sydney, Australia and to Thailand via Darwin, NT.

In November 2017 one of the two Embraer KC 390 prototypes was flown to the United States to continue the flight test program for the twinjet military transport and tanker. It operated from Embraer’s facility in Jacksonville, Florida, for tests of the avionics systems, crosswind operations, and external noise measurements. The move came despite a serious flight test incident in Brazil on October 12, when the first prototype nearly crashed during low-speed handling trials. Initial deliveries to the Brazilian Air Force commenced in 2018.

Strategic industrial partnerships were signed with the Czech Republic and Portugal for the manufacture of sub-assemblies and components. The aircraft was designed as a multi-mission platform so that it could be used for air-to-air refuelling, aerial fire-fighting, search-and-rescue and medevac, equipment kits being designed to be installed in less than three-hours.

In February 2018 the Australian company Adagold Aviation announced it had formed a joint venture with the Portuguese charter and defence aviation services operator HiFly. Together they had signed a Letter of Intent with Embraer to obtain up to six KC 390s, to be operated for multiple defence projects and to jointly explore new business opportunities in training services. It was expected they would be used on humanitarian and disaster relief operations on a wet-lease basis.

In mid 2019 the New Zealand Government announced that up to five Lockheed C-130J Hercules would be obtained for the RNZAF to replace its older model C-130Hs.