- Hungary becomes the second C-390 NATO operator
- Aircraft will be equipped with an Intensive Care Unit for the first time
Budapest, Hungary. 05 September 2024 . Embraer delivered the first C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft to the Hungarian Air Force. The aircraft will be the first in the world equipped with a roll-on/roll-off Intensive Care Unit, being even better equipped to perform humanitarian missions and Medical Evacuation Missions. The Hungarian C-390 is fully compatible with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements, not only in terms of its hardware but also in its avionics and communications configuration.
The aircraft fully meets the requirements of the Hungarian Defence Forces, being able to perform different types of military and civilian missions, including Medical Evacuation, Humanitarian Support, Search and Rescue, Cargo and Troops Transport, Precision Cargo Airdrop, Paratroopers Operations, and Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR).
“The arrival of this aircraft represents a real milestone for the Hungarian Air Force as it will give the Hungarian Defence Forces unprecedented capabilities in military air transport. It is in Hungary’s security interest to have strong, well-equipped, modern defence forces, and we are working on that. Embraer is an excellent partner in this”, said Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence of Hungary.
“This is a very special moment for Embraer, as we deliver the first C-390 Millennium to the Hungarian Air Force. This aircraft delivers an unbeatable combination of performance, flexibility and reduced life cycle costs, making it the airlift of choice in Europe”, said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “We are confident that the C-390 will add important capabilities to Hungary and we look forward to supporting the aircraft’s entry into service.”
The C-390 can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways. The aircraft configured with air-to-air refueling equipment, with the designation KC-390, can operate both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case also by receiving fuel from another KC-390 using pods installed under the wings.
Since entering operation with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019 and the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, the C-390 has proven its capacity, reliability, and performance. The current fleet of aircraft in operation has accumulated more than 14,000 flight hours, with mission capable rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.
