The first C-390 Millennium of the Hungarian Air Force successfully completed its maiden flight yesterday in Gavião Peixoto, in the interior of São Paulo. The Embraer Defense & Security team flew for approximately four hours, carrying out a complete assessment of the aircraft, which will now undergo a period of testing before entering service in the European country.

“This maiden flight is an important milestone for Hungary’s C-390 program. The C-390 Millennium has received international recognition due to its outstanding operational performance and capabilities, and Embraer is increasing production to meet growing market demand. It is an honor to work with the Hungarian Defense Forces in strengthening its capabilities by offering the best military air transport solution available. We are committed to further deepening the partnership with the Hungarian Defense Forces and to continuing this support in the future”, says Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

In November 2020, the Hungarian government signed a contract with Embraer for the acquisition of two C-390s. The Hungarian Defense Forces aircraft will be the first in the world with an Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, an essential resource for carrying out humanitarian missions.

Hungary was the third country to choose the C-390, after Brazil and Portugal. The Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic and South Korea also selected Embraer's multi-mission aircraft. The C-390 is redefining military airlift and challenging the logic behind current and future generation platforms by offering multi-mission capability, reliability and interoperability.

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 wider range of missions such as transport and launch of cargo and troops, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian missions, including operating on unpaved runways, on surfaces such as compacted earth and gravel. The aircraft configured for aerial refueling, with the designation KC-390, has already proven its capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver, in this case receiving fuel from another KC-390 using capsules (pods) installed under the wings.

Since entering into operation in the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, and more recently in 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 11.500 flight hours, with operational availability around 80% and mission completion rates above 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.

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