First Portuguese AF Embraer KC390 Millennium aircraft under the Temporary registration PT-ZDK landed at Beja AB — Air Base No. 11 on October 16th , doing a ferry flight from Gavião Peixoto with stop-overs at Recife & Sal in Cape Verde.
Back in August of 2019, the Government of Portugal signed a contract with Embraer for the acquisition of five KC0390 Millennium aircraft, as part of FAP’s process to modernize capabilities and increase readiness for public interest missions. The contract also includes services and support, as well as a flight simulator.
The deal amounted to 827 million euros and delivery of the first aircraft just happened at the rate of one unit per year. In addition, Embraer has contractual obligation to deliver a flight simulator, support and service for 12 years to the Portuguese Air Force.
Embraer says ,
The KC-390 aircraft meets all FAP requirements capable of performing various civilian missions, including humanitarian support, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and wildfire fighting, adding superior transport and launch capabilities for cargo and troops and in-flight refueling.
Portugal’s Minister of Defense , João Gomes Cravinho at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facilities assembly line.
Portugal is the largest international partner of the KC-390 program, and its participation in the development and production of the aircraft is recognized for having a positive economic impact on the generation of jobs, new investments, increased exports and technological advances in Brazil.
The C-390 Millennium and its aerial refueling configuration, the KC-390, are the new generation of multi-mission military transport aircraft that offer unparalleled mobility and payload capacity, rapid reconfiguration, high availability, enhanced comfort, and flight safety, as well as optimized management of reduced operational costs throughout its lifecycle, all on a single platform.
Worth mentioning , the First Portuguese Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) crew have already completed the full qualification (training) in the embraer KC390 Millennium at Anápolis , Brazil in November 2021.
On the last leg of its flight , the new KC-390 aircraft was escorted by two F-16s. Though, It was delivered under the test registration PT-ZDK, it is going to receive the Portuguese serial 26901. From now onwards, the aircraft will undergo a phase of integration of NATO equipment and certified by the National Aeronautical Authority.
Display Picture : Beja AB.
