Embraer will return to Seoul ADEX 2025 from 20 to 24 October (see for details AVIONEWS) to showcase its defense and security portfolio including the C-390 Millennium airplane. Products and solutions from Embraer Defense & Security are present in more than 60 countries and its solutions span across air, land, sea, and space domains.

In 2023, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) selected the C-390 Millennium for its Large Transport Aircraft (LTA-II) public tender, providing the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with new military transport aircraft. The C-390 Millennium aircraft will be specially configured to meet ROKAF’s requirements, along with comprehensive services and support, including training, ground support equipment, and spare parts.

This agreement features a robust industrial cooperation program, with significant C-390 components that are manufactured in South Korea by local aerospace partners, strengthening the capabilities of South Korea’s defense industrial base and Korea-Brazil aerospace ties.

Last month, Embraer and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency KOTRA held a week-long roadshow in Sacheon and Busan which included visits and seminars aimed at identifying areas of further collaboration between Brazilian and Korean companies.

Embraer has a global supply chain and has been partnering with Korean companies since the launch of its E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft program in 2013. South Korea’s Flight Inspection Center also operates the Praetor 600 since 2024.

 International momentum for the C-390 Millennium has been growing – in addition to South Korea, the aircraft has been selected by 10 other Air Forces (Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Austria, The Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil and an undisclosed Nation) around the world. The Portuguese Air Force, an existing operator of the C-390, recently signed for the acquisition of a sixth C-390 Millennium aircraft and the inclusion of ten new purchase options for potential acquisitions by future partner Nations.

Since entering service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024, the C-390 Millennium can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft. It is capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue (SAR), firefighting and humanitarian missions, and operating on temporary or unpaved runways, such as packed earth, soil and gravel. The aircraft configured with air-to-air, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its aerial refuelling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.