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Hot on the heels of the additional Porter order last week comes more order news. Embraer announced its C-390 Millennium won the Large Transport Aircraft public tender to provide the Republic of Korea Air Force with an undisclosed number of aircraft, beating Lockheed Martin and Airbus. This is more significant news than it seems, even if the deal is for only three aircraft.
This is the seventh Air Force to select the C-390. The win in South Korea helps with Embraer’s prospects in India, where up to 60 aircraft are under consideration. There’s also a Saudi deal in the offing. Perhaps even a win in Sweden is possible, given how closely Brazil and Sweden are working on the Gripen. Momentum is building for the C-390.
This is excellent news, considering where Embraer was only three years ago. The KC-390 program was funded by the Brazilian Air Force, which then cut back its original order. The program looked wobbly.
Beating Lockheed Martin is no small feat, as its C130J is the benchmark military freighter in this class. Watch the C-390 do a demo flight in Paris this past summer.
Champagne corks will be popping in San Jose dos Campos this evening.
