DefenseEmbraer delivered the 8th KC-390 to the Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) received on Thursday its 8th KC-390 Millennium airlifer, Embraer reported on its social media.
The aircraft, with registration FAB 2860, took off at 11:40 AM from the manufacturer plant in Gavião Peixoto heading to Galeão Air Base, where it landed at 12:48 PM, according to FlightRadar24 data.
The new KC-390 will join the 1st Squadron of the 1st Transport Group (1st/1st GT), known as the Gordo Squadron, which operated the last C-130 Hercules in the FAB.
The delivery occurs just over a year after the FAB received the 7th KC-390, on September 27 of last year. Due to budget constraints, the Air Force has been delaying the receipt of new aircraft, including the F-39 Gripen fighters.
The original order for the Millennium anticipated 28 aircraft, but the FAB negotiated with Embraer a reduction to 19 jets after suggesting that it would cut the order in half.
More capable than the Hercules, the KC-390s have taken on various missions of transportation, fire fighting, and rescue, among others. In addition to the Gordo Squadron, the Zeus Squadron, in Anápolis Air Base, also operates the model.
In addition to Brazil, Portugal operates three of its five KC-390s, and Hungary operates one aircraft. Orders are pending from the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Austria, Lithuania, South Korea, Slovakia, and an undisclosed country.
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