The first KC-390 Millennium of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) has entered into service with 506 Squadron located at Beja Air Base. To celebrate this milestone a special ceremony was held at Embraer’s facilities in Gaviao Peixoto on October 16th. 

This is the first of five aircraft that will be delivered to the FAP, an extensive and rigorous testing campaign have ensured the aircraft meets the requirements set by the National Aeronautical Authority (ANN) of Portugal and the integration of standard NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) equipment into the aircraft.

The C-390 Millennium fleet has already achieved 10,000 flight hours with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the FAP aim to use this next generation transporter on a wide range of missions. As Brig Gen Joao Nogueira, President of the FAP’s C-390 program stated during the aircraft’s arrival: “The entry into service of this aircraft is significant for the FAP and Portugal, as it completes the development and production of a multi-value aircraft capable of the most demanding operational scenarios.”

Portugal is part of a growing number of countries that have chosen the C-390 Millennium (including Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic) attracted by the platform’s unbeatable combination of high productivity, operational flexibility and low operating costs.

Discover more