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Brazil Embraer Defense & Security
KC-390 Millennium
A twin-jet-engine medium tactical transport and aerial refueling aircraft developed by Embraer to replace the C-130 Hercules in Brazilian and export service. It combines jet-speed cargo delivery with rough-field capability and a large unobstructed cargo hold.
In service since 2019 · 4 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
870
km/h
2,820
km range
11,000
m ceiling
💲 ≈ $90,000,000, Consistent with reporting on the aircraft's base, lightly equipped configuration, but recent European contracts bundling simulators, spares and training price it considerably higher: Portugal's 2025 order and the joint Austria and Netherlands buy both worked out to roughly EUR 130 to 165 million, about USD 140 to 178 million, per aircraft. This figure is closer to a base flyaway cost than a fully supported export package price.
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Brazil export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 4 operators
In service since 2019. Status: active · ~25 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$225M – $315M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~35 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 870 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 2,820 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 11,000 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 35.2 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 33.9 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 48,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. | 26,000 kg |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 80 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2× IAE V2500-E5 turbofan |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 139 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $90,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 25 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 4 |
Specifications compiled from public Embraer Defense & Security and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules 
Airbus Defence and Space A330 MRTT Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium? +
The Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium has a maximum speed of 870 km/h.
What is the range of the Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium? +
The Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium has a maximum range of 2,820 km.
How many crew does the Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium require? +
The Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium use? +
The Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium is powered by the 2× IAE V2500-E5 turbofan.
How many countries operate the Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium? +
The Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium is operated by 4 countries.
How much does the Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium cost? +
The Embraer Defense & Security KC-390 Millennium has an approximate unit cost of 90,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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