Embraer Confirms Uzbekistan as C-390 Millennium Customer at Singapore Airshow, as South Korea’s First Aircraft Reaches Production Milestone

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — At the Singapore Airshow, Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer formally confirmed the Republic of Uzbekistan as the previously undisclosed customer for its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, while simultaneously marking a major production milestone for the Republic of Korea Air Force’s first aircraft, underscoring the platform’s accelerating global momentum.

The disclosure officially makes Uzbekistan the first Central Asian nation to operate the C-390 Millennium, a development that reflects Tashkent’s ongoing efforts to modernise its airlift fleet and expand its capacity for strategic transport, humanitarian assistance, and disaster-relief operations.

According to Embraer, the Uzbek Air Force intends to employ the aircraft primarily for transport and humanitarian missions, significantly enhancing its ability to respond rapidly to regional contingencies across Central Asia’s vast and often austere operating environments.

Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, welcomed Uzbekistan into the growing community of C-390 operators, describing the aircraft as a “revolutionary” solution for modern air forces seeking higher performance, flexibility, and reliability in the medium airlift segment.

In parallel with the Uzbek announcement, Embraer also revealed that the first C-390 Millennium destined for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has reached the final stage of assembly, ahead of production flight testing and the integration of Korea-specific systems.

The milestone represents a critical step in fulfilling South Korea’s Large Transport Aircraft II (LTA-II) requirement and marks Embraer’s first delivery of the C-390 to an Asian customer, reinforcing the platform’s growing footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.

Bosco da Costa Junior noted that progress on South Korea’s first aircraft highlights both the maturity of Embraer’s production line and the strength of its industrial partnership with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), ROKAF, and local Korean suppliers.

He added that industrial cooperation with South Korea is advancing steadily, contributing to the resilience of Embraer’s global supply chain as the company scales up C-390 production to support an expanding international customer base.

Designed and built in the 21st century, the C-390 Millennium is positioned as the most advanced military transport aircraft in its class, offering a maximum payload of 26 tonnes, a top speed of 470 knots, and extended range compared with legacy medium transport platforms.

The aircraft is capable of performing a broad spectrum of missions, including cargo and troop transport, airdrop of equipment and personnel, medical evacuation, search and rescue, aerial firefighting, and humanitarian assistance, while retaining the ability to operate from temporary or unpaved runways.

Configured with quick-installation air-to-air refuelling equipment under the KC-390 designation, the aircraft can operate both as a tanker and as a receiver, significantly enhancing force projection and sustainment options for modern air forces.

Fully interoperable within NATO standards and particularly well-suited for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts, the C-390 Millennium is increasingly viewed as a strategic enabler for dispersed and high-tempo operations in contested environments.

To date, the aircraft has been selected by air forces in Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Uzbekistan, Slovakia, and Lithuania, reflecting growing confidence in its performance, versatility, and long-term operational value.

Together, the confirmation of Uzbekistan as a new operator and the production progress of South Korea’s first aircraft highlight Embraer’s success in positioning the C-390 Millennium as a globally competitive airlift solution, reshaping the medium military transport market across Europe, Asia, and beyond. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA