At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Portugal announced plans to acquire a sixth KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft from Embraer, expanding its Air Force capabilities. The country will also add ten new purchase options to the existing contract, allowing future acquisitions by other European or NATO members via government-to-government deals through Portugal.
The move reinforces Portugal’s role as a lead operator and training hub for the KC-390, which has been in use by its Air Force since 2023. The aircraft’s proven performance, including a 99% mission completion rate and multi-role flexibility, is expected to attract more Western operators, enhancing interoperability and reducing long-term operational costs.