IDEX: Embraer hopes C-390 will become hot property

The Brazilian manufacturer sees an “urgency” from air forces in the region to update and upgrade their tactical airlift capabilities and is optimistic the C-390 offers a modern platform to succeed and offer a more capable operational platform compared to legacy aircraft like the venerable Lockheed C-130.

The C-390 first flew in 2015 and entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019. It is now operating with the air forces of Brazil, Hungary and Portugal, and has been selected by several other European countries and South Korea.

Media reports say that countries in the Middle East and Africa such as Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all have interest in an aircraft of the C-390’s size and capability.

Speaking to Show Business ahead of IDEX, Frederico Lemos, commercial officer for international business at Embraer Defense and Security, would not be drawn on the requirements or procurement timelines of specific countries, but noted: “When air forces look at the C-390 they see flexibility, high availability and the low cost of operations.

“The aircraft’s open architecture is also key enabling it to receive additional [mission] capabilities and address different challenges throughout decades of future operation,” said Lemos.

“We also believe the C-390 is fit for the demanding operating scenarios in the Middle East. A key concern addressed early on when we thought about the aircraft is its ability to operate from hot and harsh locations as is its ability to operate to and from unpaved runways,” he said.

The ability of the C-390 to take on a variety of missions is an attractive feature for operators. “Every C-390 that comes off the production line is aerial refuelling capable. So, you can perform a special or logistics mission in the morning and then conduct air-to-air refuelling in the afternoon with the same platform,” explained Lemos.

“It is this flexibility, together with its advanced technology, that differentiates the C-390 from the other market options,” he believed.

Another important feature of the C-390 is its advanced, passive and active, self-protection system. “Sometimes there is the need to operate in contested environments and the survivability of the aircraft is very important for the region,” said Lemos.

The fly-by-wire C-390 is powered by two IAE V2500-E5 turbofan engines and is fast approaching 16,000 flight hours in air force operation with a 99 per cent mission completion rate.

Embraer has multiple discussions with air forces globally about the C-390 as many look for next generation tactical transport solutions. “We see a global market for around 460 aircraft in this category over the next 20 years,” said Lemos.

In addition to promoting the C-390, Embraer is highlighting its A-29 Super Tucano at IDEX. With over 290 aircraft ordered and 580,000 operational flown hours this single-engine type remains a highly relevant and flexible platform for air forces worldwide, said Lemos.

“We are also seeing interest in the region for our business jets for governmental entities and special missions,” he noted. “The entire portfolio of Embraer’s aircraft – pure defence, executive and commercial – are in the realm of possibility for business under the [Embraer] Defense umbrella.”

“Over last 20 years we have certified 30 platforms. This might be a record for an OEM. We are blessed to have a very prolific engineering and industrial capability, and an amazing array of platforms available to address different customer needs,” Lemos concluded.