According to the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, the C-390 Millennium will introduce a new dimension to the operational capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
On Sept. 5, 2024, at 10:01 AM LT the first C-390 Millennium for the Hungarian Air Force arrived at its new home, Kecskemét Air Base, Hungary. The aircraft, escorted by two HUAF Gripen fighters, touched down to mark the delivery of the first of two C-390s ordered by Hungary. This significant arrival underscores the expansion of Hungary’s aerial capabilities with the advanced C-390 Millennium.
As declared by Embraer the C-390 Millennium is distinguished as the first aircraft to be equipped with a roll-on/roll-off Intensive Care Unit capability, enabling it to support critical medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and humanitarian missions. In addition to medical-related missions, the versatile C-390 Millennium is also capable of performing search and rescue, cargo transport, and air-to-air refueling missions. Fully compatible with NATO standards, the C-390 will significantly enhance Hungary’s military air transport capabilities
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defense of Hungary, emphasized the impact of this acquisition: “The arrival of this aircraft represents a real milestone for the Hungarian Air Force as it will give the Hungarian Defence Forces unprecedented capabilities in military air transport. It is in Hungary’s security interest to have strong, well-equipped, modern defence forces, and we are working on that. Embraer is an excellent partner in this”
Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security expressed enthusiasm about the delivery: “This is a very special moment for Embraer, as we deliver the first C-390 Millennium to the Hungarian Air Force. This aircraft delivers an unbeatable combination of performance, flexibility and reduced life cycle costs, making it the airlift of choice in Europe, we are confident that the C-390 will add important capabilities to Hungary and we look forward to supporting the aircraft’s entry into service.
The training of four pilots and five loadmasters has been completed at the manufacturer’s training center in Brazil, while a second group of flight technicians has just begun their several-month training program. This year, ten flight technicians have already successfully passed the type conversion tests. Upon the arrival of the aircraft, they will continue their practical training on home soil, using their own aircraft. This will allow them to begin operating the aircraft soon, alongside the newly trained technical and flight crews, with on-site support from the manufacturer.
A Multi-Mission Military Transport with Superior Cargo and Mission Flexibility
The C-390 Millennium, developed by Embraer, is a next-generation military multi-mission aircraft with exceptional cargo capacity. It can carry heavy combat vehicles weighing up to 26 metric tons due to its unobstructed, continuous cargo compartment with a volume of 169 m³. This spacious compartment can accommodate various payloads, including vehicles, cargo on pallets, troops, medical patients, and auxiliary fuel tanks.
The aircraft’s versatile design makes it suitable for a wide range of missions, from tactical operations to humanitarian assistance. It features a long cargo ramp, hydraulic stabilizer struts, and a cargo winch, enabling efficient loading and unloading of cargo.
The C-390’s rugged construction allows it to operate from semi-prepared and damaged runways, a critical feature for austere environments and combat zones, as demonstrated in recent conflicts.
Thanks to its modular design, the aircraft can be reconfigured in under three hours to perform various missions, including aerial firefighting and air-to-air refueling.
Equipped with a state-of-the-art full fly-by-wire system, the C-390 enhances operational safety and reduces pilot workload in challenging conditions. Its Rockwell Collins “Pro Line Fusion” avionics suite provides an intuitive human-machine interface, improving safety. Additionally, the aircraft’s self-protection system incorporates the latest technology, increasing its survivability in hostile environments.
The C-390 also features a tactical radar with Spot SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), providing capabilities for weather monitoring, air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, and navigation.
KC-390: Versatile Aerial Refueling Capabilities and Configurations
The C-390 can be quickly configured for aerial refueling as a tanker (KC-390 designation) and as a receiver aircraft. The air to air refueling architecture for the KC-390 is the Probe and Drogue system, the aircraft utilizes Cobham-produced wing aerial refueling pods (WARPs) to transfer fuel to various receiver aircraft.
The KC-390’s cargo bay support roll-on/roll-off auxiliary tanks, with up to three palletized tanks, each capable of carrying 4000 kgs of fuel, significantly increasing its fuel transfer and storage capabilities.
Additionally, the KC-390 can function as a ground-based refueling station, providing vital support for vehicles and forward operating bases in austere conditions.
As a receiver aircraft, the C-390 its equipped with a removable refueling probe installed on the upper-forward fuselage, slightly left of center. This capability allows all fuel tanks, including auxiliary pallets, to be refueled, extending the aircraft’s operational range.
Hungary’s First Air-to-Air Refueling Capability and Growing European Adoption of the C-390 Millennium
Thanks to the tanker capability of the Embraer C-390 Millennium, the Hungarian Air Force will achieve its first-ever national air-to-air refueling capability. This development provides a crucial boost in operational flexibility, allowing Hungary’s JAS-39 Gripen fighters to undertake longer missions without relying on foreign refueling support.
Mid-air refueling significantly increases the endurance and range of the Gripen fleet, making them more effective in both national defense and international operations. This new capability not only enhances Hungary’s defense readiness but also paves the way for limited national force projection, even in support of NATO operations.
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is rapidly gaining popularity among European armed forces, with several nations placing orders to strengthen their airlift capabilities. Austria has ordered four aircraft, the Netherlands five, Portugal five (with two already delivered), and the Czech Republic two, highlighting the C-390’s growing acceptance as a reliable and versatile military transport solution. Its modern design, operational flexibility, and cost-efficiency are positioning it as a strong competitor to older platforms like the C-130 Hercules.
Countries like Greece and Sweden are currently evaluating a possible acquisition of the Millennium. Interest in the aircraft extends beyond Europe, with South Korea already placing orders, while nations such as India, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia are also considering it for their fleets.
Elia Silvestris, an aviation expert from Italy, has a keen interest in flight simulation and real-world activities, particularly military operations and open-source intelligence. His goal is to offer high-quality analyses of current global theaters, providing detailed insights into the tactics and techniques employed.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
