Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer announced on 12 November 2025 that it will showcase a new demonstrator of its KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft sporting a fresh livery at the 2025 Dubai Air Show, to be held at Al Maktoum International Airport from 17 to 21 November.
While on the face of it this is simply a new paint scheme for the KC-390, it signals a concerted push into the Middle Eastern market for the KC-390, which has already achieved considerable success elsewhere.
Embraer announced on 18 June 2025, on the third day of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget that the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence had selected the C-390 Millennium as its future transport aircraft. That continued a roll of positive news for the aircraft coming out of Le Bourget. On 16 June Embraer announced that Portugal had opted to order a sixth KC-390. Then, on 17 June, Embraer announced that the Netherlands has ordered a cutting-edge Aeromedical Evacuation System for the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s C-390 fleet: a roll-on/roll-off, self-contained, air-transportable medical module that functions as a mini hospital.
Both of these contracts included options that could be taken up by allies: for up to 10 aircraft in the case of the Portuguese order and seven options in the case of the Dutch Aeromedical Evacuation System.
Lithuania became the eighth European nation to select the Millennium: Portugul initially ordered five KC-390s in August 2019 before ordering a sixth; Hungary ordered two in 2020; the Netherlands and Austria contracted for five and four aircraft respectively in July 2024; the Czech Republic ordered two in October 2024; Sweden committed to acquiring four C-390s in April 2025; and Slovakia announced at the end of 2024 that it would begin formal negotiations to buy three aircraft. Meanwhile, South Korea ordered three aircraft in December 2023 and original customer Brazil, which already has the KC-390 in service, has ordered a total of 19.
The C-390 Millennium can carry more payload (26 tonnes concentrated) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (870 km/h). By comparison, a Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules has a maximum payload of 21.7 tonnes and a maximum cruising speed of 657 km/h.
While the C-390 can achieve a range of 2,000 km with a 26-tonne payload, the C-130J-30 can reach 4,425 km with a 20-tonne payload.
However, when configured with air-to-air refuelling equipment, when it is designated the KC-390, a Millennium can both dispense fuel and receive it from another KC-390, extending its range.
The Millennium entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023 and the Hungarian Air Force in 2024.
With its freshly painted KC-390 in Dubai, Embraer is thus looking to extend a successful marketing campaign for the aircraft that has already ensured it will be a significant airlifting asset in Brazil, Europe and South Korea.
