Colombia orders two Embraer KC-390 Millennium aircraft to modernise airlift fleet

Colombia has signed a contract with Embraer for the acquisition of two KC-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft, becoming the 13th country worldwide and the second in Latin America, after Brazil, to select the military airlifter.

The agreement, signed with the Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (FAC), includes the aircraft, mission equipment, a comprehensive support and services package, and an industrial offset programme in line with Colombian procurement requirements.

The KC-390s will replace and modernise Colombia’s tactical airlift and aerial refuelling capabilities, enabling the FAC to conduct a wide range of missions including cargo and troop transport, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, medical evacuation, search and rescue, airdrop operations and air-to-air refuelling.

A key advantage of the new fleet will be its interoperability with Colombia’s recently acquired Saab Gripen fighter aircraft, allowing the KC-390 to provide aerial refuelling support while integrating with the country’s modernised air combat capabilities.

“We are honoured by the FAC’s decision to select the KC-390 Millennium,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The KC-390 will significantly expand and strengthen Colombia’s airlift and aerial refuelling capabilities, setting a new standard for operational excellence.”

Designed as a next-generation military transport aircraft, the KC-390 Millennium can carry payloads of up to 26 tonnes, cruise at 470 knots, and operate from short, temporary or unpaved runways. The aircraft can also be rapidly configured as an aerial tanker or receive fuel in flight, offering operators exceptional operational flexibility.

The Colombian order further strengthens the KC-390’s growing international customer base. In addition to the Brazilian Air Force, the aircraft has now been selected by Portugal, Hungary, South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Lithuania, and now Colombia, reflecting increasing global demand for Embraer’s medium-lift military transport platform.