Embraer announces Uzbekistan as previously undisclosed Millennium customer
An artistʼs impression of the Embraer KC/C-390 Millennium tanker-transport aircraft in Uzbekistan national markings. (Embraer)
Embraer has revealed Uzbekistan to be the previously undisclosed customer of its KC/C-390 Millennium tanker transport aircraft.
The Brazilian manufacturer made the disclosure on 3 February, saying that the Republic of Uzbekistan is the first Central Asian customer for the aircraft that has to date been sold in South America, East Asia, and Europe.
“The Uzbek Air Force will primarily use the C-390 in transport and humanitarian missions, significantly improving its capabilities,” Embraer said. The company did not say how many aircraft Uzbekistan has ordered or if deliveries have commenced.
In Uzbek Air Force service, the KC/C-390 (the KC designation denotes the aircraft in its aerial refuelling configuration, with C denoting air transport only) will replace and/or augment the countryʼs Soviet Union-era fleet of fixed-wing transport aircraft, comprising the Antonov An-12 ‘Cub', An-24 ‘Coke', An-26 ‘Curl', and Ilyushin Il-76 ‘Candid', as well as the European Airbus C295W.
Uzbekistan now officially joins Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, and Lithuania as KC/C-390 customers. Letters of intent have been signed by Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, while NATO is seen as a realistic near-term opportunity as well. India, Nigeria, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa have all displayed an interest.
The KC-390 Millennium has a hold volume of 170 m3
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