21/05/2025

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

WEDNESDAY | MAY 21, 2025

Embraer KC-390 Millennium – enhancing airlift capabilities

o Next-generation multi-mission medium transport aircraft poised to be global game changer

Ű BY JOHN GILBERT sunbiz@thesundaily.com

competitive acquisition and life-cycle costs, making it well-suited for operations regionally and within the country’s borders. The KC-390 Millennium, powered by IAE V2500 engines, is capable of performing a wide range of missions, such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, air-to-air refuelling both as a tanker and a receiver, firefighting and humanitarian aid. “In vital missions, especially humanitarian aid and disaster relief, time is of the essence. The KC-390 Millennium flies faster (470 knots) and further on a standard crew duty

day. It also carries more cargo (26 metric tons) compared to other medium-sized military cargo aircraft,” said Caetano Neto, vice-president of sales and business development in Asia-Pacific and Middle East for Embraer Defense & Security Division. “The aircraft is versatile and reliable, designed with advanced features like modern avionics, complete fly-by-wire control, and can operate in the most demanding conditions – on temporary and unpaved runways, and in hot and high, cold and dry or humid conditions,” he told SunBiz . Already in operation with several

countries in Europe, and soon in South Korea, the KC-390 Millennium’s robust performance and adaptability make it exceptionally well-suited for Malaysia’s diverse operational needs – from humanitarian missions to regional security operations across Southeast Asia. The aircraft can also conduct air to-air refuelling both as a tanker and refueller for any aircraft that uses a probe and drogue system. Embraer’s Defense & Security Division is showcasing the KC-390 Millennium for the first time at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima 2025). The team is on-site to demonstrate how this advanced, next-generation, multi-mission tran sport aircraft redefines the capa bilities and expectations of medium airlift platforms. The KC-390 Millennium excels in Southeast Asia’s diverse terrains and conditions where versatility is crucial. The transport aircraft achieved its full operational capability (FOC) with the Brazilian Air Force in April 2023. The FOC certificate confirms that the KC-390 Millennium project meets all the requirements defined by the Brazilian Air Force and that the aircraft can carry out all its designed missions. Elaborating on how Malaysia could benefit from the KC-390 Millennium, Neto pointed to several other countries that have chosen the aircraft to replace their ageing fleets.

Neto says the Embraer KC-390 Millennium is especially well-suited to Malaysia’s operational demands. lower projected operational and life-cycle costs, long-term value, affordability and the aircraft’s multi-role capabilities are some of the influencing factors. Neto said if Malaysia were to acquire the KC-390 Millennium, it could reap similar benefits to those seen in Portugal, Hungary and the Netherlands – the three nations that selected the aircraft to replace their ageing fleets. The KC-390 Millennium offers advanced capabilities, including a high payload capacity, state-of-the art avionics and a full fly-by-wire system, all while delivering lower projected operational and lifecycle costs. This makes it an ideal solution for Malaysia’s need to modernise its airlift capabilities while maintaining budgetary efficiency. “The aircraft’s ability to perform a wide range of missions – from tactical transport and medical evacuation to humanitarian aid and disaster relief – makes it especially well-suited to Malaysia’s operational demands. Its proven performance in challenging environments, including unpaved runways and extreme weather, further enhances its value for a country with diverse terrain and climate conditions,” Neto said. Advanced capabilities,

LANGKAWI: Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer SA’s next-generation multi-mission medium transport aircraft, the KC-390 Millennium, is poised to be a global game changer, offering capabilities and advantages that make the aircraft exceptionally well-suited for Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian region. As Malaysia modernises its defence assets, the KC-390 Millennium offers a distinct advantage in terms of its ability to undertake a variety of missions on a singular platform, interoperability and

The Embraer KC-390 Millennium redefines the capabilities and expectations of medium airlift platforms.

Advanced multi-mission transport aircraft makes appearance at Lima 2025 LANGKAWI: Embraer, a leader in the global aerospace industry, is

Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium is quickly becoming the aircraft of choice in many countries around the world, including those in Europe, contributing to the modernisation of their armed forces while adding new capabilities and enhancing interoperability. The aircraft is already in service in Brazil, Portugal and Hungary and has been ordered by South Korea, the Netherlands, Austria Czech Republic and an undisclosed customer. It was also recently selected by Sweden and Slovakia for their national defence needs. Embraer’s aircraft are operated by several defence forces in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. Indonesia and the Philippines operate the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, which enables various missions, including close air support and advanced training missions. Services and support for Embraer’s customers in the region are bolstered by its personnel across the Asia-Pacific

(Apac), along with its main Apac office and a regional distribution centre for spare parts and components, both in Singapore. In the last two decades, Embraer has designed, manufactured, certified and delivered into service 21 different aircraft platforms – a testament to its engineering capabilities and excellence. The KC-390 Millennium is a new generation multi-mission medium transport aircraft designed and built to take on the demands of the 21st century operating environment. The aircraft is the most advanced in its class and flies faster (470 knots) and further on a standard crew duty day. It carries more cargo (26 metric tons) compared to other medium sized military cargo aircraft. It is powered by IAE V2500 engines. The KC-390 Millennium has been in operation for many years at full capability and can perform a wide range of missions, such as trans porting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search

displaying its KC-390 Millennium, the most advanced multi-mission tactical transport aircraft in its class, at the 17th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) from May 20 to 24. This marks Embraer’s increasing momentum for its defence portfolio in Southeast Asia. Visitors to Embraer’s booth and the outdoor static display area will see how this advanced, new-generation, multi-mission aircraft, which entered service in 2019, is redefining the concept of medium airlift capability across the world. “Embraer is proud to bring the KC 390 to Lima 2025. It is a new generation military airlift with multi-mission capability, interoperability, reliability, low life-cycle cost, and high performance at its core. The aircraft is gaining traction around the world, and we look forward to expanding our footprint in the Asia-Pacific region,”said

The Embraer KC-390 Millennium is making its presence felt at Lima 2025. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

and rescue, humanitarian missions, firefighting, and air-to-air refuelling both as a tanker and a receiver. Capable of performing reliably in Southeast Asia’s diverse terrains and

climate, the KC-390 Millennium can operate on temporary or unpaved runways and in conditions ranging from humid to hot and high or cold and dry. - by JOHN GILBERT