Portugal expands KC-390 fleet with 6th aircraft order and signals broader NATO ambitions
September 18, 2025
Portugal has formally ordered a sixth Embraer KC-390 Millennium, becoming the first operator worldwide to expand its original fleet of the new-generation transport aircraft.
The amendment to the existing contract, signed between Embraer and the Portuguese State, also introduces 10 purchase options that could serve future NATO or European partners via Lisbon, underscoring Portugal’s intent to play a central role in shaping the aircraft’s future within the alliance.
The deal formalises an intention announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, when Lisbon revealed plans to add a sixth aircraft and open option slots for NATO partners.
Portugal is the 1st nation to order extra Embraer KC-390
The order marks a significant milestone for the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), which introduced the first KC-390 Millennium at Beja Air Base in 2023. In July 2025, FAP received its third aircraft.
By expanding beyond the initial five-aircraft deal signed in 2019, Lisbon signals both its confidence in the platform and its willingness to invest further in enhancing its strategic and tactical airlift capacity.
Air Force Chief of Staff General João Cartaxo Alves said the sixth aircraft will substantially improve availability and operational flexibility across a wide range of missions, from military deployments to humanitarian emergencies. He added that the expansion also strengthens Air Base No. 11 as a centre of excellence for KC-390 pilot and operator training, allowing Portugal to share expertise with other NATO users.
“Notably, as the first NATO member to operate this aircraft, Portugal benefits from the advanced expertise of its Air Force personnel, which is essential for knowledge sharing and cooperation with other allied operators,” he said.
A move that positions Portugal as a benchmark for NATO allies
While the procurement bolsters national capability, the broader implications are clear: Portugal is establishing itself as a benchmark for European nations and NATO members evaluating their next-generation transport fleets.
Embraer Defence & Security president Bosco da Costa Júnior described the move as a “first of its kind” order from an operator, signalling recognition of the aircraft’s operational efficiency and multi-mission performance.
By anchoring training, knowledge transfer and potential government-to-government sales through Lisbon, the deal reinforces the country’s position as a reference point for allies seeking both capability and cost-efficiency in the medium-lift category.
Embraer KC-390 is emerging as NATO’s modern alternative to ageing fleets
Within NATO, the KC-390 is steadily gaining momentum as air forces seek replacements for ageing tactical transports.
The aircraft fills a critical gap left by the retirement of older C-160 Transalls and bridges the space between smaller twin-turboprops like the C-27J Spartan and larger aircraft such as the Airbus A400M. Its higher payload of 26 tonnes, greater speed and versatility have made it attractive for missions ranging from troop deployment and cargo drop to medical evacuation, firefighting, humanitarian relief and air-to-air refuelling.
The KC-390 has been in service with the Brazilian Air Force since 2019, Portugal since 2023 and Hungary since 2024, with more European operators joining the programme.
Hungary inducted its first aircraft in September 2024, while the Netherlands and Austria jointly ordered nine units, with deliveries due from 2027.
The Czech Republic confirmed two aircraft in late 2024, Sweden announced a deal for four in April 2025, and Lithuania became the newest customer with an order at the Paris Air Show.
Together with Portugal’s expansion, these acquisitions are knitting together a community of NATO operators, promising greater interoperability, streamlined training and shared logistics support.
For Embraer, the Portuguese contract carries significance beyond the additional aircraft.
By tying purchase options for potential NATO or EU partners into Lisbon’s framework, the Brazilian manufacturer gains a credible European entry point, backed by the operational experience of a NATO air force.
The Portuguese aeronautical cluster also stands to benefit from greater involvement in KC-390 support, training and development, reinforcing Europe’s industrial participation in the programme.
A step that could shape the alliance’s next generation of airlift capability
The 6th Embraer KC-390 for Portugal is more than an incremental fleet boost; it is a marker of how European and NATO procurement trends may evolve.
With a growing number of allies aligning around the type, the aircraft is fast becoming a modern and interoperable solution at a time when mobility requirements are stretching air forces across the alliance.
Portugal’s move places it at the centre of this shift, both as an early adopter and now as the first to expand, offering a benchmark for others to follow as NATO seeks to modernise its collective airlift capability.
