Portugal orders a 6th Embraer KC-390 and options for 10 more
June 16, 2025
On day 1 of the Paris Air Show, Embraer kicked off its defence announcements with an order from Portugal for an additional KC-390.
Included in the order are another 10 aircraft on option, which Portugal says will either go to its own fleet, or to another NATO member.
KC-390 options for NATO members
Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force noted that the contract will include options for a further 10 aircraft of the type.
Rather than being for the Portuguese Air Force, these aircraft will be ordered with the intention of having them in place for other NATO members, via the Portuguese state.
The partners added that distribution would be via government-to-government negotiations, without specifying how this would take place in practice.
The inclusion of the additional KC-390s is more about securing a delivery slot in the queue with Embraer before 2035. The strong demand for the aircraft mans Embraer’s backlog is growing.
Portugal’s arrangement is similar to that of the Netherlands, which has an arrangement on the KC-390 that facilitates purchases by countries including Sweden and Austria.
The first additional purchase by an operator
Embraer noted that this is the first time an operator has come back for more of its C-390 platform.
Portugal has been operating the aircraft since 2023, and is clearly pleased with its performance.
Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security, said that the order “demonstrates the recognition of the quality and operational results that this aircraft has achieved.”
The Portuguese Air Force has joined a collaboration with Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force to identify adaptations to the KC-390 for ntelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The ISR-capable version of the aircraft is officially designated as the C-390 IVR. It looks to integrate synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, advanced communication systems, and two hardpoints for external payloads.
