Paris Air Show 2023: Embraer showcases KC-390 in bid to build on European success

One of two KC-390s that Embraer has brought to the Paris Air Show to build on its recent European success with the tanker-transport aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Embraer is showcasing its KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft at the Paris Air Show running from 19 to 25 June, as the Brazilian manufacturer looks to add to the export successes it has so far scored in Europe.

Appearing for the third time at the biennial (barring a four-year break from 2019 to 2023 due to the Covid-19 pandemic)event at Le Bourget, the KC-390 will once again feature in both the static and the flying displays as Embraer looks to add to Hungary, Portugal, and the Netherlands as European customers for the twin-engined medium airlifter.

With these three countries signed up alongside the Brazil launch customer, Embraer will be targeting Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) as European countries or European-based organisations that have expressed various levels of interest in the aircraft.

In March Janes reported that Austria had attended a recent user meeting for the KC-390 as it looked to finalise a selection decision for its Lockheed Martin C-130K Hercules replacement plan. The Austrian Air Force has a requirement to replace three former UK C-130K aircraft. The KC-390 is one of the platforms being considered for this requirement, with other surplus C-130s, Leonardo C-27J Spartans, and Airbus C295s being contenders also. A Bundesheer spokesperson told Janes at the time that despite attending the KC-390 user meeting, no decision on a type selection for the C-130K replacement requirement had been made. “This will fall in the coming months,” he said. The selected type is expected to be in service by 2029.