Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer produces military transport aircraft. KC-390 Taking another important step in the Millennium’s international expansion, the aircraft has been officially introduced to Polish company Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 SA, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
The event was held on Friday (13th) and marked the first concrete step in the strategic cooperation between the two companies and strengthened Embraer’s position in the European aerospace and defense industry. This initiative is an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Warsaw on December 2, 2025, laying the foundation for deeper industrial and technological cooperation.
Partnership for KC-390 maintenance and support in Europe
The collaboration between Embraer and WZL-2 is focused on establishing a full maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capability for the KC-390 Millennium in Poland.
The center will contribute to strengthening the local defense industry through knowledge transfer and technical capacity development while increasing the operational availability of aircraft.
Douglas Lobo, vice president of customer support and aftermarket sales at Embraer Service & Support, said the partnership is a strategic step toward strengthening industry collaboration.
“This event embodies the joint vision of Embraer and WZL-2 to pursue innovation and cooperation in the defense industry. By working closely with Polish industry, we aim to build a strong partnership that creates value for the country in the long term and contributes to the European defense community,” he said.
The KC-390 is already in service with three air forces.
The KC-390 Millennium first entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019. Afterwards, it began operation in the Portuguese Air Force in 2023 and in the Hungarian Air Force in 2024.
The aircraft currently in operation are showing high performance, and have recorded a mission availability rate of 93% and a mission completion rate of over 99%, proving their high reliability and operational efficiency.
High performance and diverse mission performance
The C-390 is one of the most modern medium-duty military transport aircraft in the world. The aircraft can carry up to 26 tons of cargo and outperforms other aircraft in its class. It can also fly at speeds of up to 470 knots.
Designed for difficult missions, the KC-390 is capable of performing a variety of operations, including:
- Troop and cargo transport
- equipment airdrop
- medical evacuation
- search and rescue
- forest fire extinguishment
- humanitarian aid mission
The aircraft can also operate on unpaved or temporary runways such as compacted dirt or gravel.
Versions of the KC-390 equipped with aerial refueling equipment allow the aircraft to act as both a tanker and a refueling receiver, and can also receive fuel from other KC-390s via pods mounted under the wings.
With the new industrial collaboration in Poland, Embraer is further strengthening its strategy to position the KC-390 Millennium as one of the leading platforms for military transport and aerial refueling in the international market.
Source and image: Embraer. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
