Embraer Delivers Sixth Aircraft to FAB
Embraer’s KC-390 airlifter has received Final Operational Capability (FOC) certification from the Brazilian Instituto de Fomento Industrial (IFI), indicating the aircraft meets all requirements established by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and is capable of conducting all allocated missions.
“This certificate places the C-390 in a select group of aircraft in the world,” explained Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security. “[and is] a unique moment in Embraer’s history. The C-390 is redefining military airlift and air refuelling, challenging the thinking behind currently available platforms. Air forces around the world are focused on optimising the relationship between their operational needs and their budgets, and the C-390 is the right aircraft to meet this equation”.
Developed specifically for FAB requirements, the genesis of the C-390 lies in a union of the greatest minds of academia, industry and the state. As part of the development and certification process, around 3,500 hours were flown on the prototype under enormously varied operating conditions, and another 85,000 hours conducted on benches and laboratory test devices. The result is an aircraft created according to the highest standards in the market.
The FAB has received its sixth KC-390, from a renegotiated total order for 19. Since the type’s entry into service in 2019, FAB aircraft have already accumulated over 8,200 flight hours, and recent figures show operational availability of around 80%, with a mission completion rate exceeding 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category. In addition to Brazil, the aircraft has been selected by Portugal, Hungary and the Netherlands.
Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON
